Personal Reflection: Social Media and Communication Intern Experience

My time at the Cooperative Council of the Carolinas has been nothing short of amazing! Before this experience, I had never had an internship, so I was both nervous and excited stepping into something completely new. I couldn’t wait to learn, grow, and challenge myself, and this opportunity exceeded all of my expectations.

Going into the internship, I didn’t have much interest in social media. I had always imagined that after graduating college, I would pursue a career in sales. However, this experience introduced me to a new and unexpected passion: social media. It’s funny, most people assume college students are naturally drawn to it, but that wasn’t the case for me. Now, I’ve discovered how creative, strategic, and impactful it can truly be.

Throughout this internship, I developed skills that I will carry with me for a lifetime, including time management, organization, content planning, and designing templates using Canva. I also gained experience scheduling posts and pushing myself to think more creatively than ever before.

One of my favorite parts of this internship was attending the 2026 Cooperative Conference and Annual Meeting in Charlotte, NC. What made it especially meaningful was finally meeting in person the individuals I had previously only interacted with online. I also had the opportunity to expand my network by connecting with professionals from cooperatives across both North and South Carolina. During this experience, I deepened my understanding of co-ops and their values. I learned that community is more important than profit, more important than competition, and more important than individual success.

One of my biggest takeaways from this experience is the importance of never being afraid to ask questions. Over the past four months, I’ve asked many, but each one helped me grow. With the support and guidance of Aisha, Charlie, Emma, Donna, and many others, I learned that every question truly is worth asking.

I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and for everyone who made this experience so meaningful. As I move forward, I will carry not only the skills I’ve gained, but also the lessons, connections, and confidence that this internship has given me.