The first two weeks of my internship have flown by! I’ve been working at RxArt, a non-profit organization on the lower east side of New York. The 4 women I work with are so friendly and inspiring, and it has been great getting to work alongside and learn from them. So far, I’ve written social media posts, updated the website, delivered art to clients around the city, sent emails and made phone calls, brainstormed fundraising and contest ideas, and participated in team meetings. My responsibilities are pretty broad, and I’m happy to help with everything around the office. It’s only been two weeks, but I’ve already become so invested and passionate about the work that RxArt does. Getting to see firsthand how much work goes into smoothly running a non-profit has also made me so much more appreciative of those who are involved with them. I’m also excited about how much responsibility the women at RxArt are comfortable giving me. I’ve been allowed to work on projects and social media posts entirely on my own, and my supervisor is always impressed. I’m never talked down to or used for coffee runs, I feel like a real member of the team.
Finding this internship was a long process. For those who are interested in doing something similar, my advice is to cast a wide net. Using Indeed.com, I applied to over 20 social media and marketing internship positions in New York this summer. Some companies never responded, some asked to interview me and then never got back to me, some were looking for grad students, or had other requirements I didn’t fill that hadn’t been listed on the application. By applying for so many jobs, I was able to successfully hear back and interview with 2 or 3, and choose the right fit from among those. Although it was a lot of work, it was definitely worth it. I’d also recommend applying to things even if you don’t feel entirely qualified. I was so excited when I heard back from RxArt, but the organization is so wonderful and successful that I was worried they wouldn’t want to work with someone as young as me. Turns out, my age was a highlight for them, because it meant I was more knowledgeable about the social media and sophomores they needed help with. Never turn down an opportunity because you don’t think you’re good enough.
Living on my own in New York has already proved to be a learning experience as well. I’ve never lived in a city on my own before, and I’m learning a lot of responsibility from that as well. Even little things, like planning when I’m going to go grocery shopping or take my laundry to the laundromat so that I can get to work on time have been a good exercise in time management and decision making. New York is such an exciting and high-energy city, and on my time off from work I’ve really enjoyed exploring it, especially the art museums. My co-workers at RxArt are deeply involved in the art world and the art scene in New York, and they’ve given me awesome recommendations on exhibitions to check out.