From Reposting to Startups: How My Early Internships Are Shaping My Career

Living with cerebral palsy has shaped how I approach challenges, opportunities, and growth. For me, building a career isn’t about rushing or comparing myself to others — it’s about persistence, creativity, and adaptability. Instead of letting my disability limit me, I’ve chosen to let it guide me. It reminds me daily that progress is built step by step, and that even small experiences can add up to something meaningful.

When I first started out, I didn’t have a shiny job title or a paycheck. What I had were opportunities — sometimes unpaid, sometimes behind the scenes — that continue to teach me and shape the path I’m still walking.

My journey began with Waste Free Planet, moved through launching a YouTube project at Wellnite, included time at Sponsor A Pet, and has now led me to my current roles with SuperIntro and Sparks Village Academy. Each role has been different, but together they’re shaping the foundation of my career in digital marketing, content creation, and social media.

Waste Free Planet – The First Step

My very first unpaid internship was with Waste Free Planet. My main task was simple: reposting content from Instagram onto TikTok.

At first, I thought of it as just copy-and-paste work. But quickly I realized it wasn’t that simple:

• Content that performed well on Instagram often flopped on TikTok.

• Timing and captions made a huge difference in reach.

• Consistency mattered — posting every single day built discipline.

It wasn’t glamorous, but it gave me my first taste of real digital marketing. More importantly, it taught me to pay attention to platform differences and to always keep learning. Looking back, that “small” task was the first brick in my foundation.

Wellnite – Launching The Mentra Project

From reposting, I moved into something more ambitious at Wellnite, a company focused on affordable mental health care.

There, I helped launch a brand-new YouTube channel called The Mentra Project. The mission was to promote Wellnite’s values through fun, engaging shorts and videos. I worked with a partner, and together we committed to posting every single day for a month.

Some videos took off, others fell flat — but every upload was a lesson. I learned how to:

• Balance a serious mission (mental health) with approachable, creative content

• Stay disciplined in creating daily posts under deadlines

• Experiment with video formats to see what audiences responded to

What surprised me most was how much an unpaid role could feel like running a mini-startup project. It was my first experience of building something new, and it gave me the confidence to keep saying yes to opportunities.

Sponsor A Pet – Learning When to Move On

To be honest, my experience with Sponsor A Pet was a bit overwhelming. The company creates social media content for many different clients, and at first, I was excited about the variety of projects. It seemed like a great chance to practice adapting to different voices and styles — one day writing about animal rescues, the next helping a small business tell its story.

But after a few weeks, things started feeling unorganized and unfair. I still tried to stick with it for a few months to give it a chance and to show respect for the opportunity. Eventually though, it just became too much. I was putting in my best effort, but it stopped feeling worth it.

It wasn’t really a thoughtful decision — it was more of a clear one. I knew it wasn’t for me anymore. Even so, I’m glad I experienced it, because it taught me that it’s okay to walk away when something isn’t working.

Not every internship will be a perfect fit, but every one teaches you something. This one reminded me to value my time, know my limits, and stay true to what feels right.

SuperIntro – Startup Speed and AI-Powered Connections

I currently work with SuperIntro, a startup building a mingle/meetup app that uses AI to help people connect more naturally.

Startups move at a different speed. At SuperIntro, we’re constantly testing, iterating, and shifting based on user feedback. My role is helping shape the app’s voice and presence so it feels human and welcoming — not just another app in the store.

Here, I’ve learned how to:

• Shape a brand voice from scratch

• Blend AI and creativity to generate fresh ideas

• Think community-first, since growth depends on people feeling like they belong

SuperIntro has shown me what it takes to build something from the ground up. It’s scrappy, fast-moving, and exciting — because every experiment feels like it could be the one that helps the app break through.

Sparks Village Academy – Managing YouTube and Creating with Purpose

I also currently work with Sparks Village Academy as a Social Media Intern. This role feels especially meaningful because the academy’s mission is to provide culturally responsive and inclusive education.

Right now, I solely manage the YouTube channel — converting long-form videos into Shorts, optimizing uploads, and helping improve engagement. I also create branded content using Canva, making sure everything reflects the academy’s values of representation and community.

In the coming months, I hope to expand my work by managing other platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. I’m excited to keep growing within Sparks Village and to bring my creativity to more areas of their online presence.

What I love most is that this internship lets me combine everything I’ve learned so far — social media management, video editing, and design — into work that actually makes a difference. I’m learning how to balance creative storytelling with purpose-driven messaging, and that’s shaping how I see my future in digital marketing.

The Common Thread

Looking back, my path makes sense:

• Waste Free Planet taught me consistency

• Wellnite taught me persistence and how to launch something new

• Sponsor A Pet taught me to recognize my values and know my limits

• SuperIntro continues to teach me startup strategy and the future of AI in marketing

• Sparks Village Academy teaches me how to create with purpose and social impact

And through all of it, my friends never once questioned why I was taking unpaid opportunities. They simply supported me. That support gave me the confidence to keep saying yes, even when the path wasn’t traditional.

Final Reflection

I didn’t expect unpaid internships to teach me so much, but they did. They’ve prepared me for the work I’m doing now — balancing cause-driven campaigns with startup projects, heart with strategy, creativity with technology.

I’m still looking for my first paid role in digital marketing, content creation, or social media, and I know my career is still being shaped. But I’m grateful for the experiences so far. Every step — from reposting TikToks to launching a YouTube channel, creating content for nonprofits, and shaping the voice of a startup — has helped me grow.

These opportunities are not just about work; they’re about learning, persistence, and gratitude. I’m still early in my career, but each project is shaping me into the professional I want to become.

Because careers aren’t built overnight — they’re built step by step, with openness to growth and appreciation for the journey.