I always wanted to work for the United Nations, especially with UNICEF. The closest I got to it was in 2001.

I received an e-mail from a friend who happened to work for a UN-partnered organization called the Institute for Leadership Development (ILD). Their graphic designer quit and they needed one urgently because they were preparing for a large conference that would be held at the European Union in Brussels. They needed the posters, brochures and other materials designed and printed within the next month and a half. Around this time, I was recovering from the flu. Someone from the office actually picked me up and drove me to have an interview with the Secretary General (my future boss).

I was offered a contract, but I already had a part-time job as a teaching assistant at the Academy of Design. I was working there for 10 hours per week. So, the arrangement with ILD was, I could do some of my work at home to make up for the lost hours.    » read next