Andrew Hernandez

The work I do can be categorized as clerical duties because I assist in running the business. It’s a minute title, but I created social media images used by Unity for Equality, and I also helped create their expansion images for each country. The duties I have are similar to those I’ve learned with my current major. I guess you could say I’m a part of the food chain, but in reality, I’m an enzyme in the digestive system.

What I’ve learned so far is not to fall in love with the first draft and to push my pen. When given my prompts, I tend to create and put myself in a box, thinking, “I like what I’m doing, let’s stick to it.” Rather than “Let’s see how far I can push this creative thought and how I can elevate it further”, I can scrap the idea completely and start fresh to keep my brain running.

Attire and culture

The style I wear to work is usually a normal dress-down situation, just jeans and a shirt. I’m working remotely, so I can wear whatever I’d like, but I’ll always wear something appropriate just in case an emergency work meeting happens and I need cameras on. The work culture is very friendly and social, especially with my supervisor, and how he sends us our “tasks”. He usually gives us a date further along in the week to complete something, so he is never hovering, making sure work is sent on time. At least for me, I make sure I turn in my work on time so I can maintain the trust level I currently have, so I’m able to receive more experience in the long run. I’m required to have 120 work hours by the end of this semester, so weekly I aim for 14 hours, and if I need more, I’ll work more. If we need to take a lunch break, we clock out briefly and clock back in when we are ready. We use Microsoft Teams to keep tabs on everything and everyone. Lastly, the software, aside from Microsoft Teams, is Canva to download the digital assets like logos or specific typefaces. I use Adobe InDesign and Adobe Illustrator to make my life easier by understanding the artboard layout and creating a visually stimulating final product.

The role I play at Unity for Equality is a Digital Design Associate. I create thumbnail images, usually 1080 by 1080, which consist of the political or analytical captions provided to me by my supervisor, Mr. Agenor, the head of the Communications & Marketing Department.

The job search was a headache and a half, but finally, after reaching out to many close friends and reliable sources, I landed Unity for Equality. The reason why I chose Unity for Equality was because I wanted to work for an organization that prioritizes change and diversity. Unity for Equality takes being involved a step further by being locally and socially.

The interview process was very quick. I had a telephone meeting with the Chairman, Mr. Trivedi, in which we spoke about my values and why I think I’m a perfect candidate for the job. I then sent him my resume and cover letter and waited a couple of days to hear something back. I cannot pinpoint when, but I waited around four days from the first phone interview to actually receiving my title and first assignment. I was given my work email and company domain name to access all the needed attributes to work smoothly.

Although the internship hunt was rough and it took me a while, I finally got one, it’s called Unity for Equality. It’s a public organization located in Flushing, Queens, New York, and was founded in 2016 by the current chairman, Neil Trivedi. Unity’s mission targets minorities, including students and families struggling financially, and many more, by aiding them with essential resources needed to thrive.

The area within the company where I am involved is the Communications and Marketing Department. I am in charge of making social media thumbnails that depict captions given to us by the head of my department, Mr.Agenor Castro. My official title is a “Digital Design Associate.” Additionally, I’ve aided the chairman, Mr. Trivedi, with his expansion pieces to other countries. Recently, my supervisor, Agenor Cury de Castro, was honored by the NYS Assembly and given the New York State Assembly Citation on their behalf. It recognizes his meaningful impact and gives him recognition to the fullest extent. Secondly, Unity for Equality is continuing its vetting process by expanding to six countries, assembling six teams to report to the Board of Directors to spread their findings and push boundaries to make a greater impact!