This summer, Sakdidach Nobpatsorn interned with the Royal Thai Consulate in Chicago, where he contributed to projects that spanned culture, education, and economics. 

A highlight of his experience was helping plan and run major events, including the Thai Festival and a scientific soft power initiative. These events promoted Thai culture, strengthened connections between Midwestern universities and Thailand, and showcased Thailand’s creative economy. In addition to event coordination, Sakdidach prepared official documents and reports for the Thai government, including a GDP and economic summary of Midwestern states. 

His work provided invaluable exposure to international collaboration, particularly in building partnerships between Thailand and U.S. institutions in agriculture, healthcare technology, and education. He also had the rare opportunity to work directly with national-level leaders from both countries, offering a firsthand perspective on the complexities of diplomacy and the importance of relationship-building in international affairs. 

Reflecting on the internship, Sakdidach shared that the experience revealed how different the professional world can be from the classroom. “Things aren’t always as structured, and you work with people from all kinds of backgrounds and roles,” he said. Along the way, he developed stronger skills in communication, teamwork, and event coordination, which are key tools for his future career. 

Intercultural experiences like this are important, according to Sakdidach, because we get to engage with another culture firsthand, which broadens perspective and inspires new ways of solving problems, which is an asset in any field. 

Though the pace was demanding at times, with fast turnarounds and weekend work, Sakdidach described the summer as well worth the effort. He returned with real-world experience, a stronger understanding of international relations, and a clearer vision for his career in public service.