/ Intern at Counterpoint Arts, London Subscribe

I arrived in London on June 2nd after a nine-hour flight from Seattle, Washington, feeling anxious about the summer ahead. I was worried about my ability to live by myself in a foreign country, and about the internship. I questioned whether I would be able to perform to a high standard, and whether I would fit in in the office. As I began the internship, it felt exhausting at times. Almost every day seemed to include multiple events, from film screenings, workshops, concerts, art exhibitions, and more. Most days, I went home with my social battery drained and my head stuffed with new information, names, and sights.

However, I soon found out that I was more than capable of meeting, and even exceeding, expectations. My main roles included production support: approving events through the Refugee Week website, helping with setup and takedown of venues, and providing general support to the office staff. I also created social media content, such as posts and reels to advertise the many incredible events going on. Towards the end of my internship, I conducted a research project looking at local council grant funding for refugee programs.

The internship at times was an emotional rollercoaster. During one of my first days in the office, I attended a film screening and comedy show by the Palestine Comedy Club, and laughed so hard my jaw hurt. Just a week later, I went to see a screening of Quo Vadis, Aida?, a film about the Bosnian genocide, and sobbed alongside the rest of the audience. I realized how impactful art can be. More than reading news articles or listening to talks, media like films and comedy shows can be incredibly effective at creating awareness and building empathy.

As the only summer intern at the company, I was worried about forming connections with my colleagues. Luckily, they were all incredibly supportive and welcoming from the first day I arrived. Through casual lunches and conversations, I was able to learn so much about each of their lives and passions, which in turn led me to reflect on my own path. I’ve left London having made connections that I know I can always reach out to for career guidance and advice.

I’ve walked away from this experience as a more developed professional, but most importantly, a better human. I’ve become more confident in myself and my abilities, and more compassionate towards the people around me. I’ve learned how joy, artwork, and creativity can be some of the biggest and most powerful expressions of resistance. When the biggest tool the opposition has is to create hate and fear, and spin untrue narratives to create divide, we must work diligently to prove them wrong. Migration drives our world. Refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers form an invaluable part of our community, and we should welcome them with open arms.

Thank you to the Counterpoints Arts team and London for having me, and thank you to the Albright Institute and Mrs. Homayoun-Eisler, and the Eisler MKAI Fund for making this experience possible.