By Juliana Sarmiento
One thing they don’t warn you about internships is how quickly they fly by. Just like that, I’m in the final week of my 10-week internship. Interning at Elevate to Even Plus has been an incredible journey of professional and personal growth. This role challenged me to go beyond what I thought I was capable of, and I was pleasantly surprised by the results.
As a marketing intern, my focus was on content development and managing social media platforms to drive community engagement. Many factors intersect a successful social media strategy. Whether I was analyzing social media analytics, incorporating SEO knowledge, or developing targeted engaging content, each step I took was carefully planned.
I am thankful for the hands-on experiences and creative freedom I had in my role. One of the highlights of my internship was creating and developing my own social media campaign, the Alumni Spotlight. By highlighting the experiences of alumni, I inspired our community of interns, built awareness for Elevate to Even Plus, and spotlighted the accomplishments of the alumni. With this project, I progressed in skills from project management to video editing.
This internship inspired me to pursue a career in social media marketing. It combines my passion for creativity with my academic background in psychology to understand engagement. I also learned the importance of believing in a company’s mission and how it is reflected in my work. I support and deeply resonate with Elevate to Even Plus’s mission, which motivated me to work harder in spreading our message. My mother, an Ecuadorian immigrant, didn’t have an opportunity to pursue an education because she had to support her family. I want students living in marginalized communities to know that there are people who see our potential to achieve greatness.
Elevate Plus’s passion for guiding and preparing young professionals to navigate the world of work has left me feeling like I can take on the marketing industry. I was provided with professional development opportunities, connected with like-minded individuals, and gained an understanding of working in a non-profit marketing organization. I am beyond grateful to have contributed to Elevate to Even Plus’s mission and for the opportunity to strengthen and develop skills that will benefit me for the rest of my life.
Juliana Sarmiento is interning with Elevate to Even+ during the summer of 2024. She is a student at Drew University majoring in Marketing and Psychology. She recently completed a semester abroad in Barcelona.
