Summer 2025 brought many talented interns to the Community Services Center, and continuing our Intern Spotlight series is Ava Huang / 黃長盈 (Huang Chang Ying)! Ava is the creative mind behind the upcoming “Raising Teens in Multicultural Contexts” workshop series this September. Let’s hear from Ava about her experience as a student intern at the Center.
About Ava Huang 黃長盈
Hi! My name is Ava 黃長盈 (Huang Chang Ying), and I was born and raised in Taiwan. I’m entering my senior year at National Taiwan Normal University, majoring in Child and Family Science with a double major in Psychology and Counseling. Outside of school, I enjoy cooking, traveling, and hiking.
What inspired you to intern at the Center, and what drew you to our mission?
My journey began when a professor at my university invited Cammi to give a speech in class. Having always been passionate about family science and counseling, I saw the Center as an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in promoting community well-being. Additionally, I have long been interested in traveling and appreciating the beauty of diverse cultures and peoples. The Center’s mission to serve the international community in Taiwan deeply resonates with me, perfectly aligning with both my career goals and my interest in understanding the global community.
Can you share a favorite project or moment from your time here so far?
My favorite moments at the Center are engaging with the global community in various ways, such as helping host outreach booths for international school parents, connecting with participants at Coffee Morning, and collaborating with talented interns and colleagues. These experiences have given me the chance to hear unique stories, and it’s truly inspiring and fascinating to discover how culture shapes values while realizing how often we also share similar experiences. Looking ahead, I am excited to host the program I designed with the help of the Center’s counseling department, “Raising Teens in Multicultural Contexts: A Parenting Series,” which will take place in September. It is rewarding to apply my studies to issues I care about—teenagers and multicultural families, while making a meaningful impact on the international community.
What’s something valuable you’ve learned about supporting the international community in Taiwan?
Having grown up in my hometown, I initially found it challenging to fully understand the hardships faced by those growing up in multicultural environments or living as expats in a foreign country. It wasn’t until I began researching for my workshops, connecting with coworkers, and engaging with the Center’s community that I gained insight into the common struggles experienced by expats, such as identity diffusion, cultural differences, and homesickness. These understandings have helped me develop programs that better address the needs of the global community. Most importantly, this experience has given me a deeper appreciation and understanding of this unique group of people.
How has this internship influenced your perspective or future goals?
After working at the Center, I was inspired by the talented colleagues who bring diverse cultural backgrounds and perspectives. This internship broadened my career outlook and opened new possibilities, such as pursuing a path in multicultural counseling. I look forward to serving the international community in the future.
What challenges have you encountered during your internship, and how did you overcome them?
As the only intern from NTNU, I felt nervous and a bit lonely at first. Because it was my first internship and full-time job, and everything felt new to me. But I tried to be more open, put myself out there, and not be shy to ask questions or connect with coworkers. With the support and kindness of my colleagues at the Center, I was able to adjust to the environment and grew more confident navigating the workplace.
What’s one thing you’d like the community to know about the Center that they might not already? And in your opinion, what could we do to help more people discover and understand it?
One thing I would like the community to know is that, in addition to serving the international community, the Center also warmly welcomes the local community. We are excited to broaden our impact and support local members, fostering interaction and mutual understanding among different communities.
To help more people discover the Center, we are already developing bilingual content and offering diverse programs that suit a variety of audiences. Additionally, involving staff and interns from diverse backgrounds also creates a dynamic and engaging approach, making the Center’s services more accessible and relatable to different communities.
Ava Huang 黃長盈 (Huang Chang-Ying)
Born and raised in Taiwan, Ava is a Summer 2025 Center Intern from National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei. Majoring in Child and Family Science with a double major in Psychology and Counseling, Ava enjoys cooking, traveling, and hiking and looks forward to completing her undergraduate studies.
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