Learning To Trust My Own Voice
An interview with Audrey, an intern that has grown into her own skin
1. What first brought you through the doors? What were you looking for at that point in your life?
I was looking for a meaningful learning opportunity, one that could help me rediscover my strengths and grow. I ended up interning there as a content writer.
2. What actually happened when you were here? Share one specific moment, conversation, or experience that stayed with you,
As a content writer intern, I was pleasantly surprised to be able to go beyond just writing to creatively planning programmes and facilitating, seeing how these experiences weaved in to fuel my reflective writing.
It was the Juraseek b.bar event! I remember feeling anxious about facilitating but I leapt into it! I remember being able to ease into it the moment I was facing everybody at one of the tables. I smiled and said hi. It became like a fun and natural conversation as the participants shared. I went from "faking my confidence" to simply being present with the participants and helping them along in their conversations and learning experience.
3. What did you take with you after leaving?
I felt free to learn and contribute ideas without pressure (without fear of making mistakes or feeling out of place) because of the nurturing and compassionate environment.
4. Where are you now, and how is that connected (if at all)?
I feel overall bolder to learn and grow wherever I am, that it is never too late to start afresh, try new things, revisit or reopen doors, and redesign or readapt to my everevolving self and environment.I brought this boldness to facilitate to new heights in my internship at The Tapestry Project years later, facilitating numerous workshops and even sharing my mental health journey on stage at a secondary school and in a university classroom. I never knew I was capable of spreading cheerful energy when facilitating, and also being able to make jokes naturally.
5. If the space did not exist, what would have been different?
I may have felt less inspired in that particular season of life when I was feeling stuck in my university studies (taking up this internship for redirection and to gain insights about myself, which I did!) I managed to resume my studies, feeling less stuck and trapped.
