If we’ve met at work, you probably know me as Aaron
What you might not know is that I joined as an intern after leaving an established career – and much of my life behind in Russia. Before February 2022, I worked in marketing in private healthcare, leading a media production team. I enjoyed my work and had plans for the future. Moving abroad wasn’t one of them. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, I was afraid of being drafted into a war I didn’t support. I didn’t want to be part of it, so I left. I spent several months abroad, freelancing and trying to find my feet. As my savings ran low, I put what I had left, with some family support, into a master’s degree in the Netherlands, hoping to rebuild my life.
That brought me to an internship. Going from managing a team to being an intern again took some getting used to. I knew I had something to contribute, but I needed a way in. I thought: okay, I’ll start here and see where I can go.
I rented a tiny room on the edge of Eindhoven and had a long bike commute to work. Money was tight. I was also going through a breakup and worrying about my dad’s worsening heart condition. Being far away made it harder. In 2024, I lost my granddad to cancer. I looked up to him enormously – as a father, grandfather, husband and professional. He was my example of the person I wanted to become. Losing him while finding my feet abroad was hard.
There were days when I thought about giving up and going back. I was tired and wanted something to feel easier. Getting a permanent role was a huge relief. I could make plans again. Gradually, I’ve grown in my work and felt more at home in the Netherlands. It’s taken time, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come. When I arrived as an intern, I brought experience, uncertainty and hope that wouldn’t necessarily come up in a conversation over coffee.
It makes me curious about my colleagues, too. We see each other’s roles and daily routines, but we don’t always know what it took for someone to get here.