There are periods in our lives when we find ourselves in precarious situations – in situations where a little extra help is needed. Thankfully, there are plenty of resources that can help people who find themselves in these situations; whether it be receiving assistance from the government (SNAP, Medicaid, etc.), non-profits, or other philanthropic sources. Feeding Texas falls under the non-profit umbrella, with the mission to end hunger in Texas. Feeding Texas is a network of 21 food banks that serves all 254 counties in Texas, feeding more than 3 million Texans annually. This semester, I had the opportunity to join the Feeding Texas team and serve their noble mission.
My official title at Feeding Texas is “Communications Intern.” Now, am I a Communications Major? No. A Marketing major? No. I must be a Writing or Literature major, then? No—none of the above. I’m currently pursuing a degree in Environmental Science and Policy. However, I chose to pursue this specific job because being able to communicate clearly and effectively—whether it be via social media or in person—is a critical skill that can serve anyone, in any position. And so here I am, an Environmental Science Major with no academic or professional experience in this realm of communications, navigating my way through the world of WordPress, Hootsuite, and Bitly.
My work space.
On a day-to-day basis, I’m either: working on blog posts, creating content for our social media accounts, transcribing interviews, editing videos, or designing graphics for our site. Working a typical 9-5 has made me realize two things: 1. I don’t ever want to work a 9-5 and 2. If I ever work a 9-5, I better freakin’ love my co-workers. Truthfully, I’ve been working for some time now, working in both City Hall and the House of Representatives, and the most valuable lesson I’ve learned is that the actual work you do is only 40% important. Sure, it’s very important to enjoy what you do and hopefully be passionate about it. And sure, figuring out how to do something the “right” way (subjective as it may be) is important. But at the end of the day, you figure it out. A social media analytics report? Just watch 8+YouTube videos to understand what the heck that is, and how to report it properly. Writing a blog that is culturally sensitive, using ethical language? Just read the “Guide to Writing Ethically” (yes, that’s a thing), and you’ll get it down. There is always a way to figure out the work and get it done right.
My pup, Oakley, and I taking a bathroom selfie at work.
The other 60% is the people: your team. I’ve been fortunate enough to have had positive experiences in every role I’ve held. The same goes for my current position at Feeding Texas. On days that I’m not looking forward to transcribing a video, or writing a blog, I still look forward to coming to work and being surrounded by co-workers whose company I genuinely enjoy. I’ll be graduating this upcoming December and if there’s one thing I’ll be prioritizing is the work culture. At the end of the day, it’s the people that make the organization. So, surround yourself with good people and cute dogs. You can never go wrong.
