In the early months of 2026, we had the joy of welcoming two bright sparks from Elon University, North Carolina — Benjamin Waechter and Jenna Rausche — to The Red Pencil (Singapore). From March to May, they brought their energy and enthusiasm to our team through a two-month internship made possible by Global Academic Ventures, an organisation with over 20 years of experience connecting U.S. colleges and universities with meaningful experiential learning and internship opportunities across the Asia Pacific.

Benjamin lent his talents to our Corporate Partnerships Team, while Jenna settled into our Marketing & Communications Team. It was an absolute pleasure having these wonderful young people with us, and before their adventure drew to a close on 8 May, we made sure to steal a little time for a heartfelt Q&A.

1.  Looking back at your two months in Singapore, how would you sum up your overall experience?

Ben: My past two months in Singapore helped me grow both personally and professionally. I learned about the local culture through my coworkers, community experiences, and the meaningful events and projects I was able to support at RPS.

Jenna: It was definitely a culture shock in the beginning with the accents, food, and multi-cultural norms – like taking your shoes off in the office, but I have grown to enjoy the community and the beauty of the city, and the work-life balance that is a dominant lifestyle in this country.

2. What aspects of Singapore did you find most challenging at first (e.g., humidity, local slang, pace of life etc), and how did you gradually settle in?

Ben: At first, the biggest challenge was adjusting to the communication style, especially Singlish and the fast pace of conversation. I settled in by asking questions, joining conversations, and getting involved wherever I could.

Jenna: The humidity was hard to accommodate, the laid-back pace of life was refreshing, and the food smells and flavors took a few weeks to adjust to. I have learned to live in air conditioning which I wasn’t used to before and have come to enjoy the days of rest and exploring the city and nearby countries.

3. Could you share one significant moment from your time working with us at The Red Pencil (Singapore)?

Ben: One significant moment was participating in ARTBOX. Helping with merchandise sales, volunteers, and visitor engagement allowed me to see the public-facing side of RPS and better understand how the mission connects with the community.

Jenna: I really enjoyed being able to go to ARTBOX and fully embrace the craft and creativity of Singapore. I feel like it was such a great opportunity to immerse myself in the culture and expressive landscape that is often overlooked.

“Speaking with different people and sharing the mission repeatedly helped me become more confident ."

 4. You also had the chance to take part in our community events and school events. What were your thoughts on those experiences?

Ben: The community and school events were some of the most valuable parts of my internship because they exposed me directly to Singaporean culture and the RPS mission. Speaking with different people and sharing the mission repeatedly helped me become more confident communicating the purpose of the organization.

Jenna: I enjoyed getting to visit schools and attend outreaches as I was able to learn more about culture and education and resources while being able to spread awareness and make an impact. I saw it as an opportunity to learn from the students and elderly just as much as they were learning from me.

5. Having completed your internship with us, how do you now feel about working in the non-profit and social service sector? Has this experience shaped or shifted your perspective on pursuing a career in this field?

Ben: This internship gave me a much stronger appreciation for the nonprofit and social service sector. I saw that nonprofit work requires strategy, communication, adaptability, and relationship-building, which made me more interested in work that connects business skills with social impact.

Jenna: I have grown an appreciation for the people that work in this sector and dedication to the cause and heart for serving others. I think I have learned a lot about what I do and don’t want in my future career, specifically relating to working for a cause I believe in and the community it brings.