Tra-My Do
Tra-My came to Ireland from Vietnam to study sustainable development, and found in the Global Issues Course something she wasn't quite expecting: a space that felt like a small rehearsal for the kind of world she wants to help build. Read her story below.
Finding Community and Confidence: Tra-My's Journey with the Global Issues Course
Tra-My first heard about STAND at an orientation session for international students in Cork in September 2025. She was drawn in by how closely the course aligned with her own values, but she didn't want to just show up and listen. She joined as a course coordinator, taking on a hands-on role that would shape the experience as much as it shaped her.
Her first impression set the tone for everything that followed. "I was in a space that felt surprisingly warm and alive, and was really overwhelmed with joy to meet everyone in the course. The group dynamics were beautiful, where people were friendly and supportive of each other, with a shared sense of respect for the facilitator and for the space we shared."
That openness [of the participants] made it easier to show up fully, both as a coordinator and as a participant in my own right.
As coordinator, Tra-My worked closely with STAND's Education and Research Manager and course facilitators each week, handling logistics, welcoming participants, and keeping the group connected. It was more demanding than she had expected, but also more rewarding. Seeing people return week after week, and engage so openly, reminded her that consistency is its own form of care.
"There were moments when I wasn't sure I was doing enough, but seeing people return each week and engage so openly reminded me that showing up reliably is itself a form of care."
Beyond the practical skills she developed in facilitation, coordination and professional networking, the course gave Tra-My something harder to put on a CV. "It reinforced something I already believed in, which is solidarity and cooperation, not competition, are what actually move things forward. On a personal level, it also reminded me to trust my own voice a bit more."
One moment in particular has stayed with her. During a session built around the SDG game, the group quickly discovered that competing wasn't going to get anyone very far. "We realised the only way to actually get anywhere was to cooperate and support each other."
"That shift brought a real sense of solidarity, and I felt much closer to everyone in the room afterwards. It was a small moment, but it showed that the way we relate to each other in the room mirrors the kind of world we're trying to build outside of it."
What surprised her most was the quality of the community she found. People showed up genuinely willing to contribute, to help each other between sessions, and to share their thoughts openly. For Tra-My, that level of goodwill among near-strangers became a reflection of something bigger: how much we underestimate people when we don't create spaces that invite the best of them.
"That level of goodwill in a group of near-strangers made me reflect on how often we assume people are too busy or too guarded to care, and how much we miss when we don't create spaces that invite the opposite."
When asked whether she'd recommend STAND to other students, Tra-My didn't hesitate. "It's a rare combination: you get a wonderfully engaging course on global issues, but also a community that tries to live out the values it teaches. Whether you join as a participant or step into a coordinator role like I did, you come away with real skills and real connections, not just a certificate. If anything, I'd say it's especially valuable for people who, like me, sometimes feel caught between wanting to act and feeling unsure where to start. STAND offers a gentle but clear entry point into that space."
Looking back on her year in Cork, the Global Issues Course stands out as one of its highlights. A small room. A small group of people. Choosing to show up for each other. For Tra-My, that turned out to be more than enough.
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