Reflective Journal Entry – The Human Library Event

August was a special month for me as an RVI ambassador because it was the first event where all of us ambassadors came together at full strength. The event was called “Human Library”, and from the start it felt different because this time, it wasn’t just about helping during a session — it was about working as a full team.

Before the event began, we were responsible for setting up everything: arranging furniture, preparing lanyards, organizing tables, and setting up the food. Even though these were behind-the-scenes tasks, I could feel the teamwork and commitment from everyone as we got the venue ready.

When the event started, I was paired up with Mikaail again to co-facilitate our own break room with a speaker. Having just worked with him on “Tropical Talks” the week before, our chemistry was strong and made the facilitation smoother. This time, I noticed a real difference: instead of holding back, I found myself more involved in the conversation. Our group of youths was small, but the discussion with the speaker felt natural and engaging. It honestly felt like redemption from our Tropical Talk, where I had struggled to speak up as much.

After the event, we had a debrief with the RVI team to reflect on what went well and what could be improved. For me, confidence is still an area I need to work on, but I can see how much I’ve grown since my first event in June. Each month, I’ve been learning and building more comfort in my role as an ambassador.

I’m grateful to be part of this team, and it was encouraging to finally meet all the other ambassadors in person. I also want to give special mention to Mikaail, who has supported me through every workshop and event so far. His guidance and encouragement have been really inspiring, and I’m glad to have someone like him to learn from as I continue this journey.