After my interview with the IOM, everything happened so fast. I was assigned to AustCham immediately, and within days I was already working,organizing events, jumping into responsibilities, and trying to keep up. It felt sudden, almost unreal, but I’m honestly grateful… because it became one of the best learning experiences of my summer.
Because of the program requirements, the Diaspora Program interns met every Friday for workshops. And even after the workshops, we didn’t just go home and disappear. We stayed,sometimes laughing, sometimes talking, sometimes just enjoying the moment together. That “fun time” became more than just fun. It was like our little promise to ourselves: *show up, don’t skip, because this matters.* We looked forward to it every week.
I also tried to start some movement,something to bring people together and create a spark,but it didn’t really work out the way I hoped. Still, I learned a lot. Even failing taught me how much effort, patience, and timing it takes to actually make things happen.
Then came our closing ceremony. After that, we went to Terelj. We talked about each other’s first and last impressions,how we first saw one another, and what we thought by the end. And honestly… it broke my heart. Realizing that I might not meet them for a long time felt heavier than I expected. I knew change was coming, but I didn’t think it would hurt this much.
Now summer is almost finished, and I still have to keep working for AustCham TT. I’ll continue, of course,but even as I move forward, part of me will always want to go back to those Friday workshops, the laughter afterward, and the people who made this season feel unforgettable.
I was also part of YEE program organized by MEA and Youthinc in 2023, it is so good see reunite wuth Youthinc in 2026 and glad to see their committment to youth development is strong as ever.
