“TRP's mission is especially important because it gives a voice to individuals who have been through overwhelming life circumstances"

Why do you think The Red Pencil’s mission is important?

I think that The Red Pencil’s mission is especially important because it gives a voice to individuals who have been through overwhelming life circumstances, allowing them to express their inner thoughts and feelings through an alternative medium. For example, in times of devastation, words may not suffice to convey one’s grief, so it is even more essential that The Red Pencil continues to spread the power of creative arts therapy to help the vulnerable around the world to overcome the feeling of helplessness. In fact, it is also this unique mission which prompts me to apply for an internship here!

Why did you want to intern at The Red Pencil?

I first got intrigued by creative arts therapies through TV shows which showcased the magical healing effects of art and music therapies on patients. Also curious about the world of marketing and humanitarian work, I decided to join the team as an intern at The Red Pencil, with the hope of helping to raise awareness about the benefits of creative arts therapy on mental health.

What was your experience like working virtually from home?

Thanks to the kind guidance of Joyce and Audrey, working from home virtually, was less daunting than expected. In fact, it has got to be one of the best internships I had so far! They were super supportive and understanding, always open to helping me out whenever I had any queries. Everyone at The Red Pencil was also very friendly and approachable. It was really heartening to see how the team remains so tight-knit despite being physically apart.

What gets you up in the morning?

Coffee! (hahaha, just kidding :P). Hmmm, this question really got me thinking! I guess it would be the opportunity to value-add someone else’s life while improving myself for the better. I enjoy waking up to work on something, measure the result, and understand the impact it has on others and myself. I am also always on the grind to learn new skills and acquire new knowledge so that I can put them into good use to help others. I supposed that it is the desire and passion to become a better person to others and myself, that keeps me on the move!

What's your favourite form of creative expression?

It would definitely be music! Fun fact, I was in Guzheng Ensemble and Chinese Orchestra for around 10 years, so I supposed that this when I developed an innate love for music and relate it as a tool of expression. Personally, music is kind of like a window to my soul, serving as an outlet for my heart and mind to express how it is feeling at that moment.

“Personally, music is kind of like a window to my soul, serving as an outlet for my heart and mind to express how it is feeling at that moment." 

“I would love to create a world where there is more empathy in society, where there is neither discrimination nor stigmatization, and everyone would be treated equally without any preferential treatment."

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

New Zealand would be the place! To be honest, I enjoy being away from the city. The thought of waking up to the countless shades of green along with glistering clear waters would be simply breath-taking and wondrous. I love how natural scenery can be found everywhere, and without light pollution due to the city lights, I can always look up to admire these beautiful gems (stars) in the night sky easily. What’s more, there is also always the opportunity to view the spectacular aurora australis. Plus, it is also just a 10 hours flight from New Zealand to Singapore, so I can always come back for a visit!

If there’s one thing in the world that you could change, what would it be?

I would love to create a world where there is more empathy in society, where there is neither discrimination nor stigmatization, and everyone would be treated equally without any preferential treatment. I think that empathy is important, especially today, as increasing discrimination can lead to a more divisive and polarized world. In particular, I hope that mental health would be less of a stigmatizing issue. With less prejudice, a supportive environment could be created where people would feel encouraged to seek help.

How has the internship been beneficial to your personal and professional development?

It was actually my first time doing a Marcom internship at a non-profit organisation, so the whole experience at The Red Pencil has been a rather fulfilling and fruitful one! I really got to learn a lot about the line of work that a non-profit organisation does, and it is interesting to learn about the more ‘human’ side of an organization where the emphasis was placed on raising awareness to help the vulnerable to make the world a better place. I also got to try my hand at the different marketing applications like Hootsuite and Trello, as well as tasks like copywriting, visual designing of collaterals, and more. Overall, it has been a truly insightful and enriching journey. It has definitely sparked my interest in pursuing a career in a similar industry!

What are some of your plans and goals after your internship at The Red Pencil?

Currently, my plans after the internship would be to embark on my winter internship at an ASEAN organization to further explore the field of research. I also hope to go on to my third year of university and my goal is to graduate as soon as possible, so that I can make a greater contribution to society with the knowledge that I have acquired with my education!

“I hope that in the near future, creative arts therapy would be a concept that everyone is familiar with and people would hold a better understanding of the significant impact that it could bring to those in need"