Dear future intern,
Your life is about to change, and truly there is nothing I can say to prepare you for it. But I can tell you that I understand, and so do all of the interns who came before you.
We understand the whirlwind of emotions that are either on their way or already sitting heavy in the pit of your stomach. The excitement, the fear, the pride, the nervousness, and even that small tinge of regret that lingers as you sift through the what ifs and what will happens that flood your mind. You begin to realize that life back home does not pause just because you are leaving.
We understand what it feels like to sit on a plane for eighteen hours, unsure what to think about, suspended somewhere between sky and ground, time stretching thin as you wait to meet the change you know is waiting once you land. And we have met that change.
We know what it is like to sit in your room on the first night, the last night, and every rewarding and taxing day in between. We know what it feels like to not know what we are doing. We know how it feels to be lost. And we know how hard it is to love the life you are living today while missing the one you had yesterday.
We know you will find your community, and we know how deeply they will fill your heart and quietly shift your way of thinking. We know you will make a difference, even when it is hard to believe that you could. We know some days will drag on endlessly, and we also know that time will suddenly feel too fast, and there will never be enough of it once you reach the end.
We also know that no two experiences are the same.
You are embarking on a transformational adventure that many people could never face, and that alone deserves your pride. It will challenge you in ways you did not expect, but when you come out on the other side, you will realize that you are better for having lived it.
Like I said, I cannot prepare you, because no two experiences are the same. But if I could offer you anything, it would be this.
Say yes, even when it scares you, even when all you want is to go home and be alone. Yes is the doorway to connection, experience, understanding, and knowledge. Moments like these do not come often. Accept them with open arms and a willing heart.
Keep showing up. Consistency grows into comfort, and comfort grows into connection. The more you are seen, the more you are known, and the more people begin to care for you. People are what make this experience what it is, and to be part of a village, you must be willing to live as a villager.
Be uncomfortable. That is where change is waiting for you. Things will be different, and they are meant to be. Let them be what they are, and allow your mind to learn from something unfamiliar. Fear is often just excitement wearing the mask of the unknown.
Remember your privilege. Most people will never have the chance to live the life you are stepping into. Do not take a second for granted, especially when things get hard. Hold this awareness gently, not as a source of shame, but as a reminder to listen more closely, to learn more deeply, and to advocate more thoughtfully.
Feel everything. Let every emotion pass through you and stay long enough to be understood. Write it out, draw it, move your body through it, talk it through, walk with it, call a friend or text one of us. I do not care how you do it, but you have to feel it to understand it. You have to feel it to understand yourself. To feel is to allow what you are experiencing to become part of you. Feel with your community. Feel with the people back home. Feel with your fellow interns. Emotions are the gateway to change, mentally, psychologically, and even revolutionarily. Be happy, be hopeful, be sad, angry, and lonely. Be all of it, but never cling to one feeling for too long, and never ignore another.
Ask for help. I once believed that asking for help meant being a burden, when really it revealed a reluctance to trust my community. That was never my intention, but my silence said otherwise. The surprise and disappointment on my friends’ faces changed the way I understood help. It is not give and take. It is trust. It is belief that we will show up for one another when we are vulnerable. It is a quiet understanding that we do not have to do this alone.
Spend as much time as you can with the people around you. Share meals, conversations, rides, snacks, and small smiles. Everyone carries their own stories and lessons, and if you are open and kind, you might be invited into them. Some people may not be sure of you at first. Do not take this personally. You are new. You may look out of place or move differently than the local community. That does not mean something is wrong with you. It simply means people need time. So return to the same coffee carts, walk the same dirt roads, keep smiling at the grumpy old woman on the corner, and do not fear the barking dog. One day it may recognize your face and finally let you pet it.
Take time for yourself. While there is power in saying yes, there is also wisdom in knowing when to say no. Ground yourself when you need to. Make sure there is enough in your cup so you can keep filling others. We cannot show up fully for the world if we neglect ourselves.
Know that it is okay to be scared. It is okay for everything to feel like too much. It is okay to grieve the life you could have lived back home. This opportunity is beautiful and rare, and you appreciate it more than words can hold. But it is also hard, long, and exhausting. You will miss your family, your friends, your coworkers, and the comfort of familiar faces. Things will be new, different, and often not in English. This is part of the experience. And it is okay to be overwhelmed by it sometimes. Feel the hard alongside the good. Just remember to reach out when you need to. Do not sit in it alone. Feel it, then let it go. You will be okay.
And somehow, all of this is exactly the point.
You will be okay. And one day, you will realize you are better than you were before.
So keep your head up and your mind open. Notice the small things. Be present in the quiet moments and the loud ones. Take it all in. Earn trust and offer your own. Laugh whenever you can. Say yes when opportunity knocks, and give your whole heart when it does. Share love freely, and allow yourself to receive it. Call your family. Stay close to your friends. And also make space for new ones where you are. Love the life you are living, because one day you will miss it deeply. Do everything you can to leave no room for “I wish I had,” and make space instead for “remember when.”
You are going to be okay. And we are so excited for you.
Congratulations on the adventure of a lifetime.
Cheering you on from here,
Jordyn <3
