射射屋

Before arriving in Sydney, I knew I wanted an internship that would teach me something new while also helping me feel connected to life in Australia. I could not have asked for a better experience than the one I had with Urban Rec. From day one, I was welcomed into an energetic, tight-knit team that made me feel like part of the family. Over the course of my internship, I learned more than I ever expected, not just about how a business runs behind the scenes, but also about Aussie sport, community, and culture.

Urban Rec is a social sports organization that runs recreational leagues across Sydney and other parts of Australia. Their mission is to make sport social, inclusive, and fun, and I got to see how that plays out in real life. I helped update email templates and training resources, created Instagram content, and designed a slide deck and workbook for a leadership conference. It was hands-on from the start, and I appreciated how much trust the team gave me to take ownership of projects. I also learned how to balance brand tone with creativity and how to adapt quickly when things did not go exactly as planned. That was especially true when our office literally burned down halfway through my internship.

One of the biggest highlights was getting to actually play in a local netball league. I had never played netball before coming to Australia, but after watching a few matches and getting some patient tips from my coworkers, I jumped in. I definitely made a few embarrassing mistakes, but it was so fun and such a cool way to feel immersed in Australian culture. Not just observing, but participating. Plus, it gave me a new appreciation for how central sport is to everyday life here. Even walking through parks after work, it was clear that community sport is a huge part of what brings people together.

The best part of the experience, though, was the people. I genuinely met some of the kindest, funniest, and most down-to-earth coworkers I have ever worked with. Whether we were chatting during lunch, catching up in the office, or joking around in the group chat, I always felt supported and included. They never made me feel like “just an intern,” and I really valued being part of the team. Even after everything that happened with the office, the way everyone stayed upbeat and focused on solutions left a huge impression on me. It was also interesting to see how relaxed yet focused the Australian workplace can be. People took their work seriously, but there was always time for a laugh, a coffee, or a quick chat. It showed me the kind of workplace culture I want to be part of in the future, where people work hard but also care about each other.

As my time in Sydney comes to an end, I am so grateful for everything this internship has given me. I learned so much, not only about work but also about myself. I will carry these memories and this team with me wherever I go next.