The Journey
The Challenges
1/ Language & Self-Confidence
One of the main challenges for me during this internship was language. English is my second language, and I have never been very confident using it. Whenever I needed to speak, I often felt nervous inside. I had many thoughts, ideas, and feelings that I wanted to share with Julia to show my excitement, to express agreement, or to compliment her work truly, but when the words reached my mouth, all I could say was something simple like, “This is so good.” I sometimes felt frustrated, wishing my language skills were stronger so I could express myself more fully.
What really helped me overcome this was Julia’s patience and non-judgment. English is not her first language either, yet she always listened carefully and genuinely tried to understand what I was saying. Every time I felt like giving up, choosing silence because it seemed easier than struggling to speak, Julia never rushed me. Instead, she will patiently wait for me to finish what I wanted to say and show real interest in hearing my complete thoughts, rather than pretending to understand just to avoid effort.
Through this experience, I learned to be more accepting of myself and more courageous in expressing myself. I slowly realized that communication is not about perfect grammar or vocabulary but about connection and sincerity. Little by little, I started to speak more, trust my voice more, and allow myself to be seen and heard, even if my English was not perfect. This became an important personal growth experience for me during the internship.
2/ Finding My Own Voice
When I first learned that I might become Julia’s intern, I actually felt quite nervous inside. Her work often explores themes of pain, loneliness, and emotional depth, while my own artistic style is usually bright, colorful, and joyful. I worried that I might not meet her expectations or that the way I see the world or the words I share would not match what she was looking for. I was afraid that my artistic voice might feel “too light” or not serious enough in comparison to hers. However, as I spent time with Julia, I began to truly understand her honesty, not only in her artwork, but also in how she lives. She shared with me why her work focuses on pain: because she wants to speak about the wounds of this world that are often unseen or ignored. Through working closely with her over these weeks, I learned that art is not about choosing a “correct” emotional tone or meeting someone else’s expectations. What truly matters is whether we show our hearts honestly without hiding any part of ourselves. This experience taught me that art becomes powerful when it is truthful. It does not come from fear, comparison, or trying to fit into an external standard, but from listening deeply to our own inner voice and connecting that voice to the world around us. Instead of changing who I am, I learned to respect my own perspective, to create without fear of others’ opinions, and to trust that sincerity, whether expressed through light or shadow, is what truly gives art its strength.
​Julia Krahn
Jane Tang
The Successes
1/ Learning Through Technical Challenge
When Julia gave me the task of separating children’s drawings into layered vector files using Adobe Illustrator, I felt nervous at first. Learning a new technical skill has never come easily for me, and I usually need strong motivation to step into unfamiliar software. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to complete the task well.
However, because this assignment mattered to Julia’s project, I decided to challenge myself instead of avoiding it. I spent an entire afternoon researching tutorials, practicing different tools, and testing workflows. Little by little, I began to understand the logic of the software. After many trials, I finally succeeded in separating every color into its own layer, preserving the original brush textures while preparing the artwork for large-scale digital enlargement.
Completing this task gave me a deep sense of accomplishment. It not only strengthened my technical ability with Illustrator, but also taught me an important personal lesson: I am capable of learning difficult skills when I allow myself the patience to struggle rather than give up too quickly.
This success happened because Julia trusted me with real responsibility and because I chose to believe in my own ability to grow.
2/ Growth in Artistic Confidence
Another important success during this internship was developed not through physical production, but through deep conversation. While working with Julia on clay, we talked about criticism and praise and how artists learn which voices to listen to. She shared how a close friend once watched her performance and told her very directly that he did not think it was “art.” Hearing this surprised me, and I asked Julia how she personally balances compliments versus criticism. Growing up drawing, I slowly realized that compliments had shaped how I judged the value of my own work. I often depended on external praise for confidence. During this internship, I came to understand that letting other people’s opinions define my goals or identity would only block my growth and prevent me from finding my true artistic voice. Julia shared that it took her many years to learn discernment, understanding which comments offer real guidance and which ones should not affect the heart. She told me that the value of criticism depends on where it comes from: the person’s intention, their knowledge of you, and the perspective they bring. These conversations helped me begin to move away from seeking validation and toward trusting my own vision. This success was not about changing who I am, but about learning to protect my heart, listen wisely, and continue discovering who Jane is rather than becoming someone shaped by other people’s expectations.
Jane Tang
​Julia Krahn
Overall Skills & Growth
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Learned to observe the full creative process from free imagination to physical realization.
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Developed the ability to think without limiting ideas too early and then translate dreams into practical execution.
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Gained confidence in creating from emotional honesty rather than external approval.
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Strengthened artistic self-trust and personal creative voice.
Future Application
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Create artworks and spaces that bring warmth and a sense of home to others.
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Begin each project by listening to my inner voice and building from sincerity rather than trends.
Biggest Learning
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Warmth comes from sincerity. True creation begins with honesty, not perfection or popularity.
​LEaD Key Take Away
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Leadership begins with listening and empathy.
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Self-reflection leads to creative and personal growth.
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Cross-cultural experiences build understanding and adaptability.
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A growth mindset turns challenges into opportunities.
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Begin each project by listening to my inner voice and building from sincerity rather than trends.
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​Advice for Future Interns
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Know what you hope to learn. Having your own intentions helps you stay present and engaged throughout the internship.
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Stay open and sincere. Be flexible with change and genuinely curious—real learning grows from honesty and openness.
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Have direction, stay open, and learn with sincerity.