This weekend, we traded the busy streets of Seoul for the historic city of Gyeongju. We explored centuries old temples, wandered through local markets, learned how to make traditional gochujang during a cooking class, biked through the city, and even ended the weekend at a K pop concert. It was one of those weekends that reminded me how quickly Korea is beginning to feel familiar. Three weeks ago, everything felt new. Now, I am settling into a routine, both inside and outside of work.
That feeling carried over into the office this week as well. Somewhere along the way, I stopped thinking about Seoul as a place I am visiting and started thinking about it as a place I am living. It is a small distinction, but it feels significant. This week I walked into the office feeling genuinely ready, like I belonged there and knew what I was doing. That confidence did not appear overnight. It came from showing up every day, asking questions, and pushing myself to take on more than what was expected.
This week’s prompt asks about navigating uncertainty and ambiguity, and I think that growing confidence is the perfect place to start.
When I applied for this internship, I expected to be doing research, reading policy documents, and supporting projects in international development and sustainability consulting. What I did not expect was becoming the person building a LinkedIn strategy for the company from scratch.
Over the past few weeks, I have been developing a communications strategy for JHSUSTAIN’s LinkedIn page by writing posts, creating graphics, researching the algorithm, building a content calendar, and thinking strategically about how a small Seoul-based consultancy communicates its work to funders, partners, and future talent around the world.
As a political science major with minors in business and information science, marketing was completely outside my comfort zone. That is exactly what has made it so rewarding.
Stepping into something unfamiliar forced me to research, experiment, and develop skills I genuinely did not have before. I spent time learning what makes posts successful, studying how similar organizations communicate their impact, and figuring out how social media fits into a company’s broader strategy. None of that knowledge was handed to me. I built it from the ground up, and I am proud of how much I have learned in such a short amount of time. It reminded me that curiosity and a willingness to learn are often more valuable than already having the answer.
This internship has also shown me how much effective communication matters.
Most days, it is just my fellow intern and I in the same room while my supervisor, Seoyoung, works in a different one. That setup has challenged me to communicate more intentionally by asking for clarification when I need it, sharing updates regularly, and making sure expectations are clear.
One conversation with Seoyoung became a turning point. After I shared the types of projects I enjoyed most, she adjusted my weekly responsibilities to better align with my interests and strengths. That experience taught me that advocating for yourself is one of the best ways to grow. Since then, whenever I finish a project, I ask what else I can help with. That simple habit has led to more responsibility and more opportunities than I expected.
One of the most valuable parts of this internship has been sitting in on real business conversations. I have been included in discussions about consortium partnerships, project proposals, and funding opportunities with international collaborators. As someone pursuing a business minor, seeing these conversations unfold in real time has been incredibly valuable. There is a huge difference between learning about business development in a classroom and watching professionals negotiate partnerships, communicate value, and make strategic decisions that affect real projects.
What surprised me most is that uncertainty exists at every level. Watching experienced professionals navigate evolving partnerships and changing priorities made me realize that ambiguity is not something you eventually outgrow. The difference is simply that experience teaches you how to move forward even when you do not have every answer.
Three weeks into this internship, I think ambiguity has become one of the greatest opportunities for growth. It has pushed me to be resourceful, communicate more effectively, and trust my ability to figure things out.
I came to Seoul hoping to gain experience in international development. Instead, I have gained something even more valuable, confidence in my ability to adapt. Whether I am learning a new professional skill, contributing to conversations I never imagined being part of, or exploring another corner of Korea, I am realizing that the most meaningful growth often begins when you step into something unfamiliar and trust yourself to learn along the way. Looking back, I can already see how much I have changed in just three weeks, and I am excited to see how much more I will continue to grow during the rest of this internship.
