Date: November 5, 2024
Author: Victoria Aguilar, Marketing and Communications Intern
Picture this: a fourteen-year-old girl, unsure of what she wanted to do in life while everyone around her had aspirations and goals. Her goal was, to put it simply, to do something. Now, picture a nineteen-year-old who feels she has found her career path, discovering a sense of belonging within her chosen field. I am both of those girls, just a few years apart.
I’m currently a second-year student at UC San Diego, interning with Shoreline Community Services as their Communication and Marketing intern. However, I want to start at the beginning.
As a freshman in high school at a small school that integrated internships into our learning, I was like many in my age group—unsure of what I wanted or how to go about it. But I think my school made it somewhat easier for me. I began with a non-profit writing internship, and I absolutely loved it. Although I wasn’t sure it was what I wanted for my future, I sought a different internship during my junior year. Once again, I was drawn to another non-profit organization, this time focusing on underserved women and children impacted by domestic violence.
I considered continuing this internship for my senior year, but I didn’t feel my work was making a real difference. So, my internship search began again at the start of my senior year. This time, I chose a non-profit assisting previously unhoused women and children. I worked in childcare and felt I was truly helping with something, which made me feel content.
Fast forward two years, and I’m here at Shoreline Community Services. When I saw the opening at Shoreline, it felt right up my alley. I enjoyed marketing and working with non-profits, and this opportunity felt like it was meant for me. I updated my resume, wrote my cover letter, submitted everything, and hoped for the best. Soon enough, I received an email about scheduling an interview, and I was ecstatic. After the interview, I felt confident but didn’t want to get my hopes up too high. A few days later, I received an offer for the position. I could hardly find the words to express my excitement.
The internship program at Shoreline felt like everything I was looking for. I had an interest in marketing and media, but I also wanted to make an impact. I knew I loved working with non-profit organizations, and I felt confident that my efforts would positively affect the community and the organization.
My biggest draw to Shoreline, and my decision to accept the internship offer, was the sense of community and engagement I saw when researching the organization. It felt localized, with a strong sense of belonging for everyone involved. That’s what I needed: to intern somewhere I felt I belonged, where my work would be appreciated, and where I could help make a difference. Shoreline checked all those boxes so perfectly that it was an offer I couldn’t pass up. Shoreline Community Services is an opportunity I believe no one could overlook.
Stay tuned for more Shoreline blog posts and our mission to serve our unhoused neighbors in the Central Beach area of San Diego!
Thank you for joining us on this journey. We’re excited to launch the SCS Blog and share our work, stories, and impact with you!