When I first started my internship at Hopeful Change, I will admit I was intimidated. The role was focused on marketing, and to be honest, that was not a space I saw myself in. I had always considered myself logical, structured, by the book. I had labeled myself as ‘bad’ at anything artistic or creative and avoided design work like the plague. Even though I had always been fascinated by graphic design, video editing, and digital marketing, I kept those interests at arm’s length, convinced they were out of my skill set.
But something shifted when I met Dawn and Derrick Townsend, the incredible couple behind Hopeful Change. From the very beginning, they encouraged me to explore. "You can take this internship in any direction you want," they told me in our first meeting. That moment sparked something in me. Suddenly, I was flooded with ideas and excitement, and for the first time, I felt like maybe I could try.
Of course, the excitement quickly gave way to pressure. The freedom they gave me also came with the weight of not wanting to let them down. To play it safe, I started with a structured document outlining website suggestions, layout improvements, reference designs, and ideas for streamlining their content. I figured this would be helpful without me having to risk failure.
But when I shared my concerns, the Townsends’ said they wanted to see my vision executed. And more importantly, they believed I could.
So, I tried. I tried web design tools, watched tutorials, experimented, failed, tried again, and eventually began building a brand-new website for Hopeful Change. And to my surprise, I enjoyed it. A lot. I found myself in a state of creative flow, thinking more about colors, layouts, and messages that could reflect the nonprofit’s powerful mission to serve underserved youth experiencing trauma, violence, and poverty.
That spark led me to try something else new: creating a video series for the organization’s Instagram. I interviewed Georgia Tech students about their mental health experiences, edited the footage using CapCut (a tool I had never used before), and helped bring more personal storytelling to Hopeful Change’s social media presence. Planning and editing those videos was one of my favorite parts of the semester. It was a hands-on, expressive, and meaningful experience.
There were moments of frustration and uncertainty, but overall, this internship taught me far more than I anticipated. I picked up real marketing skills, became more confident in creative tools, and most importantly, learned not to box myself in.
Working alongside the Townsends’ and my fellow interns made the experience even more special. Whether we were organizing a focus group at Emory or tabling at Tech Green, the Townsends’ always brought so much energy to the room. It was impossible not to be inspired by their passion. At one of our focus groups at Scheller, I got to watch Georgia Tech students open up about mental health, share insights, and brainstorm real ways to bring positive change to our community. It reminded me why this work matters.
My biggest takeaway? Never define yourself too narrowly. Just because you think you are “bad” at something does not mean you should close yourself off from it. You might surprise yourself. Growth often lives just beyond that initial discomfort, and I am so grateful Hopeful Change gave me the space to reach it.
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This reflection is part of Georgia Tech’s Social Impact Fellows program, offered through the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact (ILSI). This program connects students with nonprofit and community organizations in Atlanta for semester-long, hands-on project experiences designed to foster co-learning, social responsibility, and personal growth. To learn more about program details and application information, please visit our program webpage.