My name is Jasmine Zhao, a rising U3 student at 91丝瓜视频 pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies and Psychology. I am deeply grateful to have received the Brenda and Morrison Hurley Arts Internship Award and would like to sincerely thank Dr. Robert M. Hurley and Mrs. Brenda Hurley for making my internship at Tsinghua University鈥檚 Institute of International Relations possible.
I am someone who鈥檚 deeply passionate about global governance and wishes to take on a career path with international organizations such as the United Nations. This internship at the 13th World Peace Forum allowed me to bridge academic theory with real-world practice in international cooperation and witness advanced-level diplomatic interactions first-hand. I had the privilege of engaging with diplomats, dignitaries, and global leaders鈥攊ncluding China鈥檚 Vice President, former Prime Ministers of Korea, Japan, and France, among others鈥攇aining profound insights into international diplomacy and the complexities of coordinating large-scale conferences.
I sought this internship to gain hands-on experience in peacekeeping, multilateral dialogue facilitation, and high-level diplomacy, particularly in China鈥檚 geopolitical context. My goal was to understand how high-level forums operate behind the scenes, strengthen my cross-cultural communication skills, learn about international media coordination and diplomacy, and bring international relations theory into practical utilization. Interning in Beijing, China provided unparalleled access to global leaders, policymakers, well-known professors, and media networks, aligning with my career aspirations in international organizations. Through this internship, I gained practical experience in international relations while building meaningful connections with professionals in the field. Returning to my home country of China allowed me to reconnect with family while developing a richer perspective on its role in global affairs.
The Tsinghua University Institute of International Relations fosters research on global security and governance. As the organizer of the World Peace Forum鈥攁 premier platform for Track II diplomacy鈥攊t convenes leaders, scholars, and journalists to address pressing international challenges. The theme of the 13th World Peace Forum is Advancing Global Peace and Prosperity: Shared Responsibility, Benefit, and Achievement. It included 4 plenary sessions and 18 panel discussions, featuring leaders and professionals from over 70 countries.
My duties and responsibilities throughout the internship mainly focused on media coordination and diplomacy. I established partnerships with 100+ Chinese and international media outlets (e.g., Bloomberg, TASS, Xinhua News), securing coverage from 200+ organizations to amplify forum outcomes. I also managed end-to-end logistics for media registration and press conferences before and throughout the World Peace Forum, leading 10+ team members to ensure seamless operations. In addition, I used computer programming software such as Python to analyze global media coverage trends, producing conclusive reports to guide post-forum outreach. I also drafted bilingual press releases and assisted with diplomatic correspondence for the World Peace Forum as well as for Tsinghua University.
My IDS major鈥檚 coursework in global governance equipped me to analyze forum discussions through a policy lens, while studies in diplomacy informed my outreach to international outlets and interactions with global leaders. My major in psychology facilitated cross-cultural communication and helped me navigate interactions with participants. Additionally, it equipped me with knowledge of group dynamics, which improved my coordination of team members during high-pressure events.
A highlight amongst many during my internship was welcoming the Prince of Saudi Arabia and hearing his views on global security today. A challenge I encountered was resolving multiple unexpected, time-sensitive problems at the same time during the forum that required rapid prioritization and communications. Even though I didn鈥檛 receive any academic credits for this internship, it further enhanced my interest in international relations and consolidated my goal of pursuing a career at international organizations tailored towards peacekeeping, all of which wouldn鈥檛 have been possible if I wasn鈥檛 given the internship award to travel, live, and purchase necessities for survival in Beijing.
I extend my deepest gratitude to the 91丝瓜视频 International Experience Awards founders, and especially to Dr. Robert M. Hurley and Mrs. Brenda Hurley, for their generous support. This transformative experience has been invaluable to my professional growth, and I will carry its lessons throughout my career.
