I've wanted to be many things throughout the course of my lifetime. A marine biologist. A pediatrician. A famous poet or author. A travel writer. A graphic designer. A non-profit director. This list (which is in order, by the way), embodies what I'm most passionate about in life, but there's one thing they all had in common; they were fleeting.
In my sophomore year of college, I had these big plans to travel the world, write about the places I visited, profile the people I met, and get out of my comfort zone. It was my junior year when I had a sudden change of mind. By then, I had taken a few courses in advocacy and rhetoric with my favorite professor, Dr. Kevin Mahoney. This was around when my interest in social movements and non-profits sparked.
In transparency, I didn't quite know what I wanted to do. I knew I liked traveling, learning more about sustainability, writing, art, advocacy, and graphic design. After thinking about it, I realized social media would easily blend all of these aspirations and passions of mine. I could be a social media manager or content creator for a non-profit or social movement. I could make post graphics, write captions, and do so for a business or non-profit with deeply rooted values.
In my junior year of college, Kutztown University officially announced they would be launching a new major: social media theory and strategy. I enrolled in the program and advanced towards my new goal. I started managing social media for the KU College of Business and interned for Women in Technology International (WITI) while also maintaining my interest for writing by working for the The Keystone Newspaper, Her Campus at KU, and interning for Study Breaks Magazine.
I started taking six courses a semester and getting my hands in everything I possibly could related to my field. After graduating, I transitioned into a social media management role for WITI where I would later be laid off.
So, here I am, with Melder Media in hand. My goal: manage social media accounts for local small businesses, non-profits, artists, bands, and professionals. What better place to do so than York, Pa., the place I was raised and have come to hold close to my heart.
If you have any questions about my experience, don't hesitate to reach out! It'd be great to chat and share professional stories.
Go get em Kate! You are smart, creative and amazing at what you do!