10 year internship scheme anniversary (VIII): The Internship: Shaping minds and careers

Andra Alexandru was an intern in the Communications Department of the British Embassy and is currently Press & Political Officer for another diplomatic mission in Romania. She is also a co-founder of Digital Diplomacy Romania and of the Bucharest-based Institute for Digital Government.

Fascinating, Enriching, Inspiring. These three words only begin to describe my experience as Intern in the Communications Department.

The six weeks programme that turned into a six-month collaboration with the embassy in 2011 was a springboard for my career, a defining period with tremendous impact on my professional and personal development. It strengthened my passion for public diplomacy, it shaped my knowledge on a wide of variety of activities, and offered me the chance to meet and form lasting and cherished friendships with extraordinary people.

I still look back with fascination at the incredible opportunities that came with actively contributing to the daily work, including the planning of major events in Bucharest, like the Royal Wedding celebration, the Queen’s Birthday Party or high-level visits. Although I continue to be engaged in similar activities in my current job, I could never forget the feeling of the first handshake with the Ambassador, the first meeting with a member of the House of Lords, and, of course, the first talk about leadership, confidence and development with Raluca, a true mentor.

In fact, all the little moments, every interaction with Raluca, Roxana and Andreea in the Comms Department and with all the other colleagues in the embassy had its own significance and contributed to shaping me into the person I am now.

The challenges, the trust, the respect, the positive spirit, the openness, the confidence building, the nurturing of creativity and leadership, the friendships and the support offered by my former colleagues long after the internship programme ended continue to be an inspiration.