Blog 1: Company I’m working for this semester
Hello future! I currently started my third internship! Glad I thought quick last semester and thankfully I found this internship through CUNY Cultural Corps. Im working as a social media marketing intern at a non-profit organization called Ballroom Basix. It’s a dance program for kids helping them learn to dance, practice etiquette, and contributing their social and emotional engagement toward themselves and others. It’s a really cute organization that makes me feel motivated to help any way I can! This internship is online however I did attend an event that made us interns see in real time what this organization is about. This organization started with the founder Dr.Dance started the back in 2008 and believes that harmonizing relation among young people in their schools and communities is important. Especially after the Covid-19 pandemic his contributions affected positively not only to students but to schools staff and parents. Their main contributors are school district and donors. Overall, it’s an impactful organization that I am currently proud to be part of. I’m curious to know what I’ll learn, talk to you soon!
Blog 2: My role within the company
Hi again! Based on my previous blog, I said that I found this internship in social media marketing through Cuny Cultural Corps. I’ll get into how I got into this and what I’ll be doing. My job here is to help my supervisor Rikki with promoting Ballroom Basix through social media and creating interesting ways to gain awareness of this organization. Through Cultural Corps I applied to many applications and landed on this one, where I received a zoom interview with Rikki where she explained the process of working here with her. She then asked about my experience and what software I work on. The interview went well. She was impressed by my work and was glad I had the qualifications for this role. I did have to go through a second interview through zoom but this was for speaking with the founder and was more for confirming that I am selected. Generally I waited a month after the interview for me to receive this job offer. The reason is there are two rounds in the cultural corps of interviews. In the first round Rikki did interview me however i wasnt the first pick unfortunately. Although this felt discouraging, I felt really good about the interview, Rikki, and the position I felt like I would be in good hands with. So throughout the second round I couldn’t stop thinking about this job therefore I reached out to Rikki and insisted that I would be selected for the second round. She replied, confirming and accepting my request, as much as I had other opportunities and offers, they didn’t feel as secure as Ballroom Basix and that’s thanks to my supervisor Rikki and my persistence.
Blog 3: Culture of my workplace.
This blog will be a short one and it is about the culture in my workplace! This job is hybrid but mostly remote. But this doesn’t mean I get to wear my pjs…although I could. Im acting as if this were an in person job so i feel awake and not half asleep. My routine consists of showering and wearing a comfortable but casual outfit, nothing too noisy but still something suitable to wear on camera when speaking with my advisor and the founder. My next step is opening my laptop at 10 am to a google meet that my supervisor set up for me on my new employee email where she send me a list to do and I reply to let her know that i am clocked in.I start looking through emails, BBX social media posts and tend to my tasks. If I’m not doing this I’m on canva or cap cut making edits and social media posts! Meanwhile my camera is off until someone is in the google meet room, usually by Rikki and by 1 or 2 i meet with her and the other interns for a meeting to catch up and work the rest of the shift on what we were working on or having new tasks to start. By the end I send Rikki an EOD email telling her if i finished my tasks or not and telling her how it went. That’s mostly how my days go!
Blog 4: First networking event
I joined my second networking event called Uniqlo Night Party, hosted by Uniqlo. It wasn’t the usual Q&A or breakout rooms; instead, we got creative and drew together in a virtual garden. That activity made it easy to relax and connect with others.I learned that Uniqlo hosts these events every Friday, which is pretty cool if you want something consistent to join. Afterward, I got a follow up email with more details. For anyone unfamiliar, Uniqlo is a Japanese clothing brand known for simple, high-quality everyday wear. It was fun seeing how they mix art, community, and fashion in one space. Overall, I really liked the vibe. It was casual, interactive, and I even connected with someone on LinkedIn afterward. Definitely planning to join again!
Blog 5: What am I learning on this job?
Working at Ballroom Basix as a social media marketing intern has been a really eye opening experience for me. I’m learning a lot about how social media connects directly to the business side of things, especially how important it is for organizations to use these platforms to stay relevant and reach their audience. It’s shown me that marketing isn’t just about posting something creative, it’s also about understanding the bigger picture like how those posts can drive engagement, bring in new opportunities, and even play a role in the organization’s growth.
Day to day, I’m not just doing creative work, but also some clerical tasks that keep everything organized like scheduling content, keeping track of analytics, and making sure campaigns run smoothly. Even though these things seem small, I’ve realized they’re just as important because they give me hands-on practice with the behind-the-scenes work that makes marketing successful.
One of the best parts of this internship is having Rikki as a mentor. She doesn’t just assign us tasks and leave us to figure it out she actually takes time to explain the reasoning behind different strategies, gives us feedback, and shares her own experiences working in the field. That kind of guidance has really helped me grow, not just in learning new skills, but also in understanding how the marketing world works in real life. Overall, it feels like I’m getting a mix of both classroom knowledge and real-world application, which I know will help me in my career moving forward.
Blog 6: Second networking Event
I attended my second networking event titled “Share Your Summer Projects and Learn New Tools!” hosted by Bonnie Blake and Amybeth Menendez. Held online, this interactive presentation and workshop brought together GCSF students and alumni to showcase their summer projects and explore new digital tools for storytelling, design, and collaboration. The session included a Q&A and breakout rooms that allowed us to connect with other attendees and exchange ideas in a casual, engaging way. I appreciated the opportunity to share what I had been working on and to see the creativity of others in the community. One of the most valuable lessons I took away was the importance of staying current with digital tools and being open to experimenting with new platforms that enhance creative expression. After the event, we received a follow-up email with helpful resources and a link to revisit the event details. Overall, I found the experience to be informative and encouraging, providing both practical insights and a sense of connection. I was especially inspired by Amybeth Menendez, a creative technologist and educator known for her work in digital media and education. Her approach to blending creativity with emerging tech tools really stood out and gave me ideas for future projects.
Blog 7: Ethics and Image Use at Ballroom Basix
During my internship at Ballroom Basix, I’ve gained insight into how a nonprofit organization handles ethical design practices. The team is very mindful of sourcing images they either use original photography from their own events or royalty-free images from verified resources. They also ensure that any external content used is properly credited or licensed, aligning with the AIGA ethical guidelines. I learned that their logo and branding materials are protected and should not be altered in any way without approval, which has helped me better understand the importance of maintaining brand integrity. While I was not asked to sign a formal non-disclosure agreement, I was verbally reminded to keep internal communications and content drafts private. This includes not sharing unreleased social media posts or strategy details publicly or in class journals. So far, I’ve been careful to follow these expectations while still reflecting on my learning in a general way for this assignment.
Reflections on Copyright, Credit, and Personal Design
Reading the AIGA guidelines and learning about cases like the Fairey Hope Poster has made me rethink how I treat creative work, both mine and others’. In the past, I’ve definitely used stock photos or online images without thinking too deeply about credit—especially for school assignments or quick social media posts. Now, I realize that even in informal projects, giving credit and checking image rights is part of being a responsible designer. The Fairey case, where Shepard Fairey used an AP photo without proper licensing for the Obama “Hope” poster, showed me how serious the consequences of copyright violations can be—even for famous artists. I understand both sides of the argument, but I believe Fairey should have gotten permission from the photographer from the start. This case made me more conscious of making sure I either use my own images or verify usage rights. It’s a shift in mindset that will shape how I approach design moving forward, especially as I work on real-world projects during my internship.
Blog 8: Ethics failed in recent advertising
Based in what I researched recently, Burger King has been hit with a class‑action lawsuit for what plaintiffs allege are deceptive advertising practices around their Whopper burgers. The claim is that ads, menu boards, and promotional materials portray burgers and ingredients that look much larger than what customers actually receive up to around 35% bigger in appearance than the real items. Ethically, Burger King is being accused of failing to accurately represent their food; while stylized food photography is normal in the industry, exaggeration beyond “aspirational” visuals crosses a line into misleading. The main ethical failure is omission or distortion: consumers are led to expect a certain size or amount of ingredient that doesn’t match reality. This damages trust, because once people feel misled, they may avoid the brand, leave negative reviews, or even join the lawsuit. For the business, aside from legal risk (possible fines, requirement to change ads, etc.), there’s brand erosion; repeat customers might feel cheated. For consumers, the harm is real: paying for a product that doesn’t look or deliver what was promised, particularly at premium pricing, reduces value and can lead to disappointment, distrust not only in Burger King but fast food ads in general.
Blog 9: Museum Exhibition
The Egyptian exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum honestly feels like stepping into another world. The moment you walk in, there’s this quiet, almost mysterious vibe like the room itself knows it’s full of history. Everywhere you look, there are carvings, statues, and colorful walls that used to belong to people who lived thousands of years ago. It’s kind of wild to think that what we see as “art” today was once just part of their everyday or spiritual lives.
While I was walking around, a few pieces really grabbed my attention. Each one told its own story through color, texture, and design showing how these ancient artists expressed their beliefs and identity in such creative ways.
Assyrian Relief Panel (Winged Deity)
Medium: Carved stone relief
Size: Approximately 7 feet tall
Subject: Representational a winged guardian figure
This giant stone relief immediately caught my attention because of its incredible detail. It shows a winged deity carved into the surface with a careful balance of lines and textures. Even though the stone is a single color, the way it’s carved gives the illusion of depth and movement. You can see patterns in the wings, hair, and clothing that almost feel rhythmic like a visual beat.
The composition feels powerful and symmetrical, which gives the figure an almost divine presence. What really stood out to me was how something so old could feel so modern in design. The clean lines and repetition almost look like something you’d see in a minimalist poster today. I liked this piece because it reminded me that design doesn’t have to be loud to be strong; even in ancient times, simplicity could carry meaning.
Painted Sarcophagus of a Priest
Medium: Painted wood with pigments
Size: About 6.5 feet tall
Subject: Representational a coffin meant to protect the deceased in the afterlife
This sarcophagus was definitely one of the most eye-catching pieces in the whole exhibit. The first thing that stood out to me was the color deep reds, greens, yellows, and blacks all perfectly balanced. The priest’s face looks calm and almost real, surrounded by tiny, detailed hieroglyphs and symbols. You can tell that every inch of it means something.
The way it’s designed pulls your eyes straight down from the headpiece to the bottom, and even though it’s super old, the paint still feels alive. The surface is smooth in some areas but cracked in others, which just reminds you how much time has passed. I really liked this piece because it mixes art and spirituality in such a powerful way. It wasn’t just made to look nice it was meant to protect someone’s soul. That idea made me think about how art carries both emotion and meaning.
Tomb Wall Relief Fragments
Medium: Painted limestone
Size: Each about 12–18 inches wide
Subject: Representational daily life scenes and offerings
These smaller fragments (although their not small) caught my eye because I believe theres more to this scene and thats whats interesting because maybe no one would ever know. The carvings show everyday people carrying offerings and doing daily tasks a nice reminder that life in Egypt wasn’t just about pharaohs and gods. The colors are faded but still warm, and the rough, cracked texture. Even though they’re old and broken, the figures are neatly arranged, almost like a storyboard from the past. I liked these pieces because they show the real, human side of ancient Egypt.
Visiting the Egyptian exhibit made me realize how timeless good design really is. The colors, textures, and layouts used thousands of years ago still feel intentional and meaningful today. Each piece whether it’s a giant relief, a sarcophagus, or a broken fragment communicates through visuals in a way that doesn’t need translation. As someone who studies communication design, I left feeling inspired by how these ancient artists turned their beliefs and experiences into lasting works of art that continue to speak across time.
Blog 10: Second Network Event Adobe Creative Career Event
I’m excited to share that I was nominated to attend the Adobe Creative Career Event and it was truly inspiring from start to finish.
Throughout the day, I had the chance to hear from incredible creative professionals across the industry, from film directors to graphic designers, all sharing real, practical advice about breaking into the field. Their insights into building a strong creative identity, staying adaptable, and navigating LinkedIn as an artist were invaluable. Adobe also showcased some exciting new updates across their tools, including: Innovative features in Photoshop
new capabilities in Adobe Firefly, enhanced creative workflows in Illustrator. It was amazing to see how these tools continue to evolve and how they empower creatives! I left feeling inspired, motivated, and grateful to be part of a community that champions creativity, growth, and opportunity.
Blog 11: Exploring Emotion Through Typography: A Review of “Why Fonts Make Us Feel” with Terrance Weinzierl
Recently, I watched “Why Fonts Make Us Feel” with Terrance Weinzierl, a recorded talk from Brand Talks Austin, hosted by Monotype. The presentation focused on Monotype’s ongoing research into the neuroscience of typography, specifically, how different typefaces shape our emotional responses and how brands can use these findings to communicate more intentionally. The talk was led by Terrance Weinzierl, Creative Type Director at Monotype, a major company specializing in type design, branding, and font technology. The event itself was part of Brand Talks, a series produced by Monotype that brings together creative directors, designers, and brand leaders to discuss emerging ideas in visual communication.
One big insight Terrance shared was that typography doesn’t just “look good” or “look bad”it actually changes how we feel, and the brain responds differently depending on the typeface. Research presented in the talk showed measurable emotional reactions to different fonts, such as warmth, trust, seriousness, or creativity. Some things that I sometimes forget when designing how subtle font choices like roundness, spacing, or stroke weight can evoke feelings before we even consciously process what we’re reading. Since this was a recorded talk, there was no follow-up email, but Monotype provides related resources and research on their site.
Overall, the talk was short and engaging. Terrance’s explanation felt accessible and creative, showing both the technical and emotional sides of typography. As someone who works in content and visual strategy, it made me think about how important it is to choose fonts intentionally not just based on trends, but based on the feelings we want the audience to experience. To learn more, I looked deeper into Monotype’s font-emotion research, which Terrance referenced. Monotype partnered with Neurons Inc., a neuro-research company, to study how people emotionally respond to typefaces using tools like EEG and eye-tracking.
Blog 12: My first BBX Event
I don’t even know where to begin… I had the chance to attend a BBX Bash, an event where two different schools come together to dance, connect, and celebrate the Ballroom Basix mission. I’m not going to lie, the day started off very early. I haven’t woken up at 7 AM in a while, so getting myself up and ready was already its own mini-challenge. The event took place in Queens, and it wasn’t until I got there that I remembered wait…” I made the flyer for this” That little realization gave the whole day a special full-circle moment.
When I arrived, the students were rehearsing, doing their last run-throughs before the parents showed up. Once everyone was in the room, the energy shifted not into a competition vibe, but into something much more genuine. It was all about bringing two schools together through dancing, teamwork, and joy.
During the performances and teacher speeches, I shifted into content-creator mode. I was taking photos, recording moments, capturing little details something I’m used to from past jobs, except this time it wasn’t in a restaurant. Even though I’m used to filming, I’ll admit I felt a little awkward at moments. Getting close to kids with a camera made me feel funny, like I was intruding, even though it was part of the job. But everyone was really welcoming, which helped.
After the performances, I grabbed a few quick interviews with some of the students and parents. We didn’t get a teacher volunteer this time, but next event, that’s going to be my mission.
Overall, the whole experience was heartwarming. Seeing Ballroom Basix’s mission fun, fitness, and fancy footwork come to life in real time made me appreciate how meaningful these events are. It wasn’t just dancing. It was connection, confidence, and community, all in one gym.
Blog 13: Making Collages
One of my recent assignments with BBX was creating digital collages for the schools we’ve visited, which are then sent to both the district and the individual schools. It was actually a really fun and creative project I got to sift through all the photos, pull out the best moments, and turn them into something that really captures the energy of each event.
What made it even more special was that I got to make a collage for a school I previously attended. Seeing those photos, recognizing the hallways, and knowing I was now contributing to something for that community felt like a moment. It reminded me of how far I’ve come and how cool it is to now be on the “behind-the-scenes” side of school events.
Overall, this assignment let me be artistic, thoughtful, and a little nostalgic and it’s definitely one of my favorite tasks so far.
Blog 14: Creating content
My job title is “social media intern,” which sounds simple on the surface but one of the hardest parts is finding good content that I didn’t take myself. I didn’t want this blog to only highlight the good things, because my peers and I definitely face challenges when it comes to creating strong content for BBX.
We all share a drive that our supervisor set up, and while it’s super helpful, things can sometimes be scattered, mislabeled, or just missing. There are moments when I’m searching for a clip or photo that I know should be in there, and… nothing. It gets frustrating because we want to produce the best content possible, but we’re limited by what we can actually find.
To be fair, we’re still new to this system meanwhile, our supervisor has years of experience and a clearer memory of where everything lives. So when we can’t locate something, we usually ask her for help. She’s always kind about it and finds what we need, but I still feel bad bothering her sometimes.
Even with the struggle, I’m proud of the way my team handles it. We search, we troubleshoot, we check with each other, and when we need to, we ask for help. It’s part of the learning curve of working with a lot of content and managing digital assets. Not everything is perfect but we’re figuring it out, doing our best, and still creating meaningful work for BBX.
Blog 15: Analytics
This month, I’ve been working on creating analytics reports and right now I’m finishing the final one for the end of the month. It’s been a surprisingly interesting process. My supervisor gave us the data we needed, plus access to a platform called Zoho, and I had to break everything down: engagement, reach, top posts, what worked, and what didn’t.
At first it felt a little intimidating, but once I got into it, I actually enjoyed the structure of it. There’s something satisfying about turning raw numbers into a story. Seeing how content performs and understanding why certain posts hit harder than others made me want to write about this experience. It showed me how analytics isn’t just math it’s part of creative strategy.
Putting this report together made me feel more confident, more organized, and honestly, more excited about the marketing side of content creation. It’s cool to see the bigger picture behind everything we post.
Blog 16: Peers
Even though my peers Natalie and Emma and I don’t see each other in person, we meet regularly on Google Meets to debrief, plan, and catch up on our work. It’s something small, but it’s become one of my favorite parts of this internship. Those calls remind me that even behind screens, you can still build real connections.
Working with them has made me realize that these aren’t just “interns I met during Ballroom Basix” they’re people who will stay part of my journey even after this experience ends. We’ve learned together, figured things out together, and supported each other through every assignment. It’s comforting to know that in a field as collaborative as digital marketing, you naturally grow a little community along the way. I’m grateful for them, and for how this internship quietly created friendships I didn’t expect.
Blog 17: Apps that help me
I use Google Meet extensively to stay connected and collaborate with my classmates, peers, and project teams. One of its biggest advantages is the ability to schedule meetings directly through Google Calendar, making planning seamless and keeping everyone on the same page. During meetings, features like screen sharing allow me to present documents, slides, or project ideas clearly, while real-time chat helps us quickly clarify points or share links and files without interrupting the discussion. I also make use of the recording feature, which is especially helpful when I need to revisit a session for notes or to catch up on discussions I might have missed. Google Meet makes remote collaboration feel almost as natural as in-person meetings, and its integration with other Google apps like Docs, Sheets, and Slides allows me to plan projects, track progress, and communicate efficiently with my peers, all in one ecosystem.
On the creative side, I rely on Canva to bring ideas to life through professional and polished visual content. Canva’s drag-and-drop editor makes designing simple, even if I don’t have formal design experience, and its thousands of customizable templates let me create everything from social media posts to presentations, flyers, and event graphics. I also use Canva’s library of stock photos, icons, illustrations, and animations to enhance my projects and make them visually engaging. One of the most helpful features is the ability to collaborate directly within the platform sharing designs with peers or team members for real-time feedback, editing, and adjustments. Combining Canva with Google Meet has become a key part of my workflow: I can brainstorm ideas in a meeting, start designing on the spot, and immediately share my work for feedback, which makes the creative process faster, more organized, and much more interactive.
Blog 18: What I Learned
link to video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRdJiB9jmOW/
Recently, my supervisor asked if I wanted to participate in an intern spotlight where I share my experience at BBX. I said yes, and I’m really glad I did. It felt special to look back on everything I’ve learned and actually put it into words almost like creating a little time capsule I can remember in the future.
My supervisor put the spotlight together and sent it to me once it was done, and I honestly loved it. Seeing my story highlighted made me realize how much I’ve grown throughout this internship. It wasn’t just a small assignment it was a reminder that my work matters, my efforts are seen, and I’ve made an impact here.It’s something I’ll definitely hold onto, even long after this internship ends.
