One might wonder what it’s like to work for one of the most popular organizations in the City of Brotherly Love—and on top of that, be a full-time college student. Every semester, Campus Philly hires interns from Philly-area schools to join their team. All of us differ in majors and interests, with one thing in common: We love Philly.
MEET THE INTERNS
KAYLA: My name is Kayla Brown. I go to Jefferson University in East Falls; it’s a few minutes from Center City and just a walk away from Manayunk. I’m currently in my 3rd year studying Graphic Design with a Marketing minor. I found out about this internship opportunity from Campus Philly’s Instagram.
I’ve followed Campus Philly since I knew I wanted to stay here for school. They highlighted the many possibilities Philly has to offer. I would attend Campus Philly events such as CollegeFest, College Nights at the Philadelphia Orchestra and at the Art Museum, and so much more. Thanks to Campus Philly, I feel like I can take on the city academically and socially. It has been a goal of mine to work with them.
My internship with Campus Philly started in early February and I’ve been on a roll ever since. As their Social Media and Editorial intern, I manage Campus Philly’s TikTok and create content each week promoting Campus Philly events and fun places to visit in Philly. Follow us, and feel free to DM me on Instagram with content you want to see!
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VICTORIA: My name is Victoria and I am Campus Philly’s Data Intern for the spring 2022 semester! I attend La Salle University and I am graduating this year with a Bachelor’s degree. My major is Integrated Science Business and Technology (ISBT) and its focus is to create professionals who are well versed in communicating across different departments at a company.
During my workday, I am responsible for updating our database with Higher Education contacts for each of our partner schools. This ensures that we are reaching the right people when we want to promote our events. After our events, I also build reports to track our metrics so that we can decide if we are performing well in a certain area.
PRIOR EXPERIENCE: HOW WE GOT HERE
KAYLA: Prior to interning with Campus Philly, I created Reels on my Instagram page and TikToks for other organizations. I’m so excited to create content for students in Philly and keep them posted on all new jawns. I previously worked with The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation as their Content Creator from May to October 2021.
It was an amazing experience to be a part of the team, contribute to meetings, and explore all facets of social media in scheduling, writing copy, networking, and observing differences across social media platforms. One day, I looked at their job page and saw that they were looking for a Content Creator. Despite not having a Bachelor’s in Marketing or Business, I decided to apply to expand my experience in Marketing and work for my favorite organization in Philly.
VICTORIA: I follow Campus Philly’s Instagram and one day they made a post about searching for a Data Intern. This was right up my alley because I knew I wanted to pursue a career in data analytics after graduation. I already took some courses on data; I was applying some of the skills I learned at my previous job and I felt like it was time to apply.
Immediately from there, I did a little more research on the nonprofit, drafted a resume and a cover letter, then I submitted it on their website. My job before interning was working at La Salle’s Career Center and they equipped me with the necessary tools to land the position. I highly recommend you start visiting your career center during your first year of college.
PHILLY FAVES: CHECK OUT THESE SPOTS
KAYLA: Being from Philly, you could say I’m an expert on things to do and places to go. To this day, my friends ask me about what’s happening every weekend!
Currently, I’m exploring Manayunk and it’s such a cute town. My favorite places to explore in Philly are Old City because of the First Fridays. I recommend the various galleries and visiting the newest restaurant on the block, Cray Taste, bringing the island flavors to 2nd Street. Cafe Ole is great to meet up in the morning and the mural next door is Instagram-worthy. You can find me on the ice at Winterfest or fulfilling my dreams of working in a cafe like SolBol Rittenhouse. The Waterfront is amazing in the summer as well as the winter.
VICTORIA: For fun, I like to visit my favorite neighborhood, the Olney-East Oaklane section of the city. I love to shop and so I spend a lot of time at Olney Plaza. When it’s time to eat, I grab some sushi from Mari Mari, or if I am feeling a little fancy, I will have dinner at So Korean Grill. It is a lively spot around 6pm.
TAKEAWAYS
KAYLA: It’s been a month working with Campus Philly and I’ve already learned so much. First, I’ve learned how to use social media scheduling software. It’s a game-changer when you want to schedule days in advance. Second, don’t close yourself in. Be open to exploring new places in the city and when in doubt, bring a friend. Third, time management is crucial. If you are going to have an internship while in school, you need to know how to manage your time. Excel sheets are your best friend when it comes to that. Block out your class time first, then time to complete your homework, and lastly block out time for your internship.
Most importantly, have fun! Campus Philly is filled with connections and making students’ experiences in Philly the best yet. Because of them, I’ve gotten the chance to visit The Insomnia CookieLab, Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Barnes Foundation, and wherever making content takes me. When you are yourself at your internship, you can enjoy it fully and learn what makes Philly so special.
VICTORIA: As far as my school/work balance, I chose to start my internship during my senior year—a time I knew I would have less classes to complete. I also make sure to keep a digital planner so that I know when assignments are due. This planner usually gets filled for the rest of the semester if my professors hand out syllabi. Whenever I have an important meeting or event to go to, I place it on my Outlook calendar.
This spring, I am excited about graduation. It’s going to be a bittersweet moment for the class of 2022. We are progressing further along in our professional lives but I am going to miss interacting with people between classes. The different personalities I came across definitely played a positive role in my growth as a person. I will cherish these moments for the rest of my life!
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