More Than Marketing: How Two Interns Experienced the Mission of the Y
Behind every social media post, event flyer, photo, or email is a story waiting to be shared. At the West Suburban YMCA, marketing has the unique opportunity to shine a light on every corner of the organization, from childcare and summer camp to wellness programs, special events, and community outreach. Because of that, our marketing interns don't just gain hands on experience creating content. They get an inside look at the people, programs, and purpose that bring our mission to life every day.
Our past marketing interns, Trinity and Om, experienced firsthand what it means to tell stories that strengthen community. We asked them to reflect on their time at the Y, what surprised them, how they grew, and the lessons they'll carry into their future careers.
When you first applied for this internship, what drew you to the West Suburban YMCA, and what were you hoping to gain from the experience?
Trinity: When I first applied, I was really drawn to the West Suburban YMCA because of how community-focused the organization is. It felt like a place where the work actually makes a difference, which was really important to me. As someone interested in marketing, I was excited about the chance to create content that actually tells stories and connects people rather than just promoting something. I was hoping to build my skills in social media and digital campaigns, while also learning how to communicate in a creative way.
Om: As a Sports Administration graduate from Boston College, I have always wanted to work for an organization that empowers its community. I was interested in understanding what motivates people to participate in community programs and how those programs create a sense of belonging. When I came across the internship opportunity at the West Suburban YMCA, I immediately felt it was the perfect fit.
The YMCA's four core values caring, responsibility, respect, and honesty are values that I strongly believe in as well. I was hoping to gain hands on experience in marketing, but I ended up learning much more than I expected. My supervisors, Katie and Meredith, were incredible and the best mentors who patiently guided me throughout the internship. Even though I was just an intern, they always treated me as one of theirs, which made the experience even more meaningful.
What is one way you've grown personally that you didn't expect when you began this internship?
Trinity: Over the course of my internship I became a lot more confident in my creativity. In the beginning, I would often second guess a lot of my ideas. With time, I started to trust my instincts and feel more confident putting my ideas out there. Being in a space where creativity was encouraged really helped me realize that my perspective and ideas hold value, and that it’s okay to take creative risks.
Om: One way I've grown is by understanding the importance of a collaborative work environment. Working in marketing showed me how essential cross departmental collaboration is to keeping an organization running successfully. Even when different departments are not directly involved in your daily responsibilities, building positive relationships and supporting one another is incredibly important. Every day felt like a new opportunity to learn something different, which made me excited to come to work. The energy of the staff played a huge role in that experience. Everyone greeted me with a smile and took the time to ask how I was doing. My desk happened to be next to the printer, so I had the chance to interact with people from across the organization throughout the day. Those conversations helped me build connections and made me feel truly welcomed.
Can you share a moment when you felt especially proud of your work or contribution to the Y?
Trinity: I was proud to contribute to the social media content for the WSYMCAs Annual Gala. Being part of promoting such an important event made me feel like I was contributing to something bigger than just social posts. It was really rewarding to know that the content I helped create played a role in bringing awareness to the event and supporting the Y’s mission. Seeing everything come together with such an amazing outcome made me feel like my work had a real impact.
Om: One moment that stands out was helping promote the Winter Carnival. From spreading the word to drafting social media content My role in organizing the event may not have been the biggest, but seeing families and community members having fun and creating memories made me feel proud of the work I contributed. Watching the smiles on people's faces was a reward that couldn't be bought, it was something that had to be earned.
Was there a moment when you truly saw the Y's mission come to life? Tell us about it.
Trinity: Something that stood out to me was seeing how people of all ages came together through different programs. Whether it was for pickleballs games, book club meetings, or community events, you could really feel how welcoming, inclusive, and real the environment was for everyone involved.
Om: One moment when I truly saw the YMCA's mission come to life was during community events like the Winter Carnival. Seeing people of all ages come together, participate, and enjoy time with one another showed me how the YMCA creates a sense of belonging for everyone. What stood out most was how welcoming the environment was. Whether someone was a long-time member or visiting for the first time, everyone was treated with kindness and respect. It was a reminder that the YMCA is much more than a recreational facility it's a place where people build connections and support one another.
Do you think the YMCA's mission of strengthening community will remain important to you in the future? Why?
Trinity: Absolutely! This experience has shown me how important it is to be part of something that brings people together and makes people feel included. Moving forward, I hope to be involved in more work that has that kind of positive impact, and the idea of strengthening community is something I’ll always value.
Om: Absolutely. The YMCA's mission of strengthening community is something that will stay with me throughout my career. As I continue working in sports and recreation, I want to be part of environments that make a positive impact on people's lives. The YMCA showed me how powerful community can be when people are given opportunities to connect, grow, and support one another. That is a lesson I will carry with me wherever my career takes me.
What did you learn from the people around you—whether colleagues, program staff, members, or participants?
Trinity: I learned a lot about how important it is to care about the work you’re doing and the people you’re doing it for. Everyone I worked with was very dedicated and proactive, and that not only showed in how they supported members of the Y, but also each other. I also learned the importance of listening to and understanding your community so that the work we create actively reflects their needs.
Om: The people around me taught me the value of kindness, patience, and teamwork. My colleagues showed me how important it is to support one another and work together toward a common goal. The program staff showed intense dedication towards creating meaningful experiences for the community. The members reminded me that even small interactions can make a difference. A simple conversation, a welcoming smile, or taking the time to help someone can have a lasting impact.
When you think about your future career, what lessons from the Y do you hope to carry with you?
Trinity: One of the biggest lessons I’ll carry with me is that marketing is more powerful when it’s meaningful. Through my experience, I’ve seen how much more impactful content can be when it reflects a real purpose and resonates with your community. It made me realize that strong marketing isn’t just about what you’re promoting, but how you make people feel and whether they can relate to what you’re putting out into the world.
Om: The biggest lesson I will carry with me is that people should always come first. No matter what role I have in the future, I want to remember the importance of creating positive experiences and building strong relationships. I also learned the value of collaboration and service. Success is rarely achieved alone, and the Y reinforced how much can be accomplished when people work together with a shared purpose.
What is one memory from your time at the Y that you think you'll still be carrying with you ten years from now?
Trinity: Since this was my very first internship, I think I’ll always remember the feeling of seeing my work actually come to life for the first time. Whether it was a social post, video, or campaign, it was such a new and exciting experience to know that something I created was being shared with the community and making an impact. What made it even more meaningful was the support from the marketing team. Katie and Meredith were always very encouraging, open to new ideas, and really helped me grow as a marketer. The combination of creating something real and feeling supported while doing so is something I’ll always be grateful for.
Om: The memory I'll carry with me most is the feeling of being welcomed and accepted as part of the YMCA family. From my first day, everyone treated me with kindness and made me feel like I belonged. Whether it was working on projects, chatting with staff members throughout the day, or seeing the impact the YMCA had on the community, those experiences left a lasting impression on me. Ten years from now, I'll still remember not just what I learned, but how the people at the YMCA made me feel valued and supported. The WSYMCA truly lived up to it's campaign "No place like this place" it wasn't just a slogan it was something I experienced it everyday.