Dear Eileen, thank you for the wishes, I also wish you the best for 2015. As you have seen, the beginning of the year was quite a little bit tough in here, and as a journalist it was really a painful time. Nevertheless the support from all over the world was such a precious help.

That’s also an encouragement to support organizations that helps raising and educating the kids to be more creative than destructive. That’s exactly what you do in ATW and I am proud I had a chance to be a part of it. I’ll make a donation, and will talk about it around me. Say hello to the team and good luck.
Hopefully I’ll come back to see you soon, that’s kind of a big set up for me but I’ll be overwhelmed to see you all again!

My dearest people of the ATW! First of all, I would like to let you know that not a day goes by without me thinking about my time at ATW. Even after the past few years, I’m still reflecting on all the things I have learned while being in New York City. I can without a doubt testify that the whole experience really was and is life changing.

Perhaps you can still remember the piece Mr. Scott helped me write for Martin Luther King Day. I think I remember most of the words by heart. It was about my environment at home, where I didn’t have much contact with a multicultural society, and how that affected me when actually experiencing one. I think that particular aspect has deeply rooted in my efforts to interact with people. My parents have always taught me to try to be very respectful to everyone, and it was even more confirmed by the wonderful people I met at ATW and in the city. It’s a lesson I will definitely try to pass to everyone I know (or will get to know). Thank you for that!

I have been thinking about ATW… my new job really made me smile because it reminded me of the wonderful time I had at ATW.

After I came back home and started looking for a job, I realized how important it is to have good colleagues who respect and appreciate you. And I know those are very important values at ATW, respect and appreciation. I hope that one day I’ll find a job where work doesn’t really feel like work, just like at ATW.

I would like to start by thanking the Actors Theatre Workshop for providing me this internship. I was able to gain more experience in my field and learn to be a leader. At this internship they did not only look at your qualities, but also to your personality. They find it important to improve both. I would also like to thank the rest of the interns. They made my stay so much more pleasant. Since we were working in each other’s presence every day, it was important to get along. There was a nice but still professional atmosphere.

I want to thank all the senior staff members and Mr. Scott for believing in me and giving me opportunities that not everybody could get. This has been a great experience that I will never forget!

At ATW, I learned how to handle a crisis by taking action and going into a difficult situation rather than just contemplating what to do. I developed social-consciousness and leadership skills while I participated in the Builders of the New World program. Working with the dedicated mentors and children from various backgrounds was an inspiration for me.

I also learned to keep a positive mindset when I am not certain of my capability to manage a situation ahead of me. The staff at ATW helped me a lot to learn how to manage situations wisely. The tasks for interns were willingly shared with volunteers and senior staff and I could concentrate on the work in which I was in charge. Mariko taught me how to work in a more organized fashion and I felt a welcoming mood from the staff meeting every time so that I could tell freely what is on my mind if there was something I felt was difficult to deal with. I am thankful because I felt that I was deeply trusted and supported at ATW.