You might not know that there’s a team of passionate student interns working behind-the-scenes (and in front of the camera) to help bring #UNHSocial to life. They are storytellers and trendsetters, bringing their immense creativity and UNH pride to connecting our community around what it means to be a Wildcat. So, how do students interested in social media find this opportunity – and what do they learn?
Stephanie Ropes ‘22 is a graduating Communication: Media Practices major who started interning with #UNHSocial the summer before her senior year. As she looks ahead to graduation – and her first job in social media marketing! – she shares her advice for getting started, making an impact and building your skillset.
Being a #UNHSocial intern is a fun opportunity where I was able to expand my horizons with social media and marketing. There is a lot of room for growth as a social media intern and I have gained new skills that I will carry with me for future endeavors.
I began working for #UNHSocial in summer 2021 and continued into my senior year of college. I saw the internship position listed on Handshake and it piqued my interest; it involved social media and creativity, which I am passionate about.
I enjoy working for #UNHSocial because it is an opportunity to show off UNH and what it has to offer. I also love how I was able to be creative in this position. I created Tik Toks, made a “Trivia Tuesday” series for Instagram stories and much more. I was also able to cover cool events that UNH hosted, from dining events to internship fairs.
One of my favorite projects was creating Tik Toks for UNH. It was super fun to be creative and hop on trends that students would engage with. I made a few “viral” Tik Toks that I am proud of, such as “Rating UNH Dining Hall Food.” Throughout my time at UNH, I have improved my editing skillset. I am always on the look out for trending sounds or songs that I could use for UNH content.
I have learned a lot about social media content and strategy. I learned that UNH students engage more with organic or user-generated content instead of professional content. They feel connected when the content seems natural, so I tried to post content that was organic to help with our social media channels.
I am so grateful I had the opportunity to work with such a wonderful and compassionate team. My supervisors and the other student interns have been supportive and pleasant to collaborate with. We all help each other out and encourage one another, which is important in any workplace – to have that tight-knit community.
Some advice for incoming students I have is to be open to everything. Do not be afraid to put yourself out there; say the first hello to the people across the hall, get to know your professors, join a club that you are interested in even when you don’t know anyone in it. The opportunities are endless at UNH so take advantage of them while you can. Senior year may seem far away now but believe me: your time at UNH flies by. Make the most of your experience in a way that you will enjoy.
I am graduating in May 2022 which is bittersweet. I am sad to leave my Wildcat family but excited to start my next chapter – working as a social media producer for UNH Extension. I want to continue honing skills I gained through my #UNHSocial internship and keep learning as I establish myself in the industry. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or check out my website portfolio.
