“To me, the power of art therapy lies in how both the artwork and the process of creating it can help people explore deeper emotions in a way that feels less direct or intimidating. “
What drew you to intern at The Red Pencil (Singapore), and what was your role during your internship?
I’d always known that I enjoyed work within the social service sector. My previous intern roles had seen me mostly in the frontlines as a caseworker, and I wanted to work in a more backend capacity to see how the experience would differ. As I was embarking on this internship, I also believed it would allow me to understand how systems are supported administratively and would paint a deeper understanding of how things came together in a charity organisation. The Red Pencil (Singapore)’s use of art therapy especially stood out to me, as I had barely heard of art therapy before joining. I also genuinely loved the organisation’s mission of making mental wellness support more accessible to underprivileged and low-income communities.
How did your experience as a Programmes Intern influence your personal or professional development?
Professionally, being a Programmes Intern taught me accountability, time management, and boundary-setting. With more than 20 programmes running concurrently at times, I had to learn how to prioritise, pace myself, and avoid burning out. I also had to tamp down my desire to finish every last to-do after work hours and learn how to switch off when it was time to.
I also learnt that mistakes are inevitable when things move quickly, and I had to become comfortable owning up to them and adapting when things didn’t go as planned. I was really lucky to be supported by my wonderful supervisor and colleague in this aspect.
Personally, I learnt the importance of tenacity, especially during stressful periods. One lesson I’ve taken away is that if you can laugh at it, you will get through it. The work can be emotional and challenging, which is exactly why we need moments of lightheartedness every now and then. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
What skills or knowledge did you gain or improve upon during your internship, and how did you see them benefiting your future career?
Wow, if we’re talking about hard skills – definitely a lot of Excel, because that’s your best friend when doing statistics. (Laughs) Beyond that, I learnt how to manage expectations and timelines, as well as communicate clearly with different stakeholders. I think these are fundamental office skills that I sometimes lose track of. (Still learning how to manage timelines, but I’m a work in progress!)
I think being forward-thinking was also something I had to pick up during my internship. We had to plan ahead for materials, prepare contingency plans, and think through possible challenges before they happened. Through that, I learnt a lot about being strategic and thinking long-term.
I also think being a Programmes Intern at The Red Pencil (Singapore) has encouraged me to look towards continuous improvement. I really was surrounded by people eager to make systems and operations work better, not just for the sake of our beneficiaries but for the sake of our teammates and colleagues. I feel like my supervisor and the interns before me had very lovingly left things more useful than they found them, and that encourages me to contribute to that culture as well. I’d like to leave things better than when I first started.
What did you learn about art therapy and its impact on people in need?
I attended a few art therapy open studios and workshops during my time at The Red Pencil (Singapore). From those experiences, I came to see art therapy as therapy in its own right. Rather than comparing talk therapy and art therapy, I think it’s more helpful to consider which approach is more appropriate for the one receiving the therapeutic intervention. What stood out to me was how art therapy provides a less confrontational way to explore emotions, especially for someone who may not yet have the words to describe what they’re feeling. As someone who’s easily restless, I also appreciated how tactile and physically engaging the process was, as it seemed to engage my brain in a different way.
To me, the power of art therapy lies in how both the artwork and the process of creating it can help people explore deeper emotions in a way that feels less direct or intimidating.
How has your experience as an intern shaped your future career goals or aspirations?
Funnily enough, it was this very internship at The Red Pencil (Singapore) that encouraged me to pursue volunteer management! One of my main tasks as a Programmes Intern was coordinating our volunteers for art material maintenance, outreach activities, and programme support. I found myself thoroughly enjoying the conversations I had with them (they are very, very cool people) and I liked that I felt a bit more inspired after getting to know them and their motivations. I think their spirit of wanting to help and live life to the fullest was infectious, and I’d like to surround myself with people like that. In my full-time role, I hope I get to meet such dedicated and kind people as well.
