by Rose Son
by Rose SonIn the blink of an eye, it feels as if winter skipped over spring and jumped straight into summer. My last week as a digital media intern at Downtown Stockton Alliance has finally come, and I reflect on the experience I’ve had over the first half of 2026. Coming into the internship one-year post-graduation was a unique experience where I was happily greeted with the empowerment and inspiration from my peers to learn something new every day. From my first day in the Belding Building to my last day, I acquired so much knowledge and experience I didn’t know I could gain.
As a digital media intern, I focused on continuing and improving DSA’s external communications. I managed different portions of our website, such as weekly event spotlights, monthly blogs, and business directories. Those responsibilities pushed my creativity and helped me rediscover my love for writing. I did backend research and interviews to ensure that the information featuring businesses and organizations was accurate and resonated with owners’ visions. Being able to translate the shared conversations I had with community members into the blogs I wrote always filled me with joy as I pressed “publish,” allowing the world to see what Stockton has to offer.
Along with the DSA website, I had the greatest opportunity to tackle social media management and content creation. During the five months I’ve been interning, I was able to produce over 100 videos and still posts for all five of our social media channels. I became well versed in software and platforms like SKED Social, Premiere Pro, and Word Press – continuing campaigns like Intern Adventures, Property Mondays, and so much more. I also helped launch our very own Tik Tok page, reaching over 1,000 organic followers in under 3 months. Recording videos has been a hobby of mine since adolescence, so being able to bring that into the work I do makes my time at DSA so much more exciting and memorable.
Aside from the hard skills I picked up, DSA introduced me to a new side of Stockton I’ve never seen. Despite being raised in this city, Downtown Stockton was a foreign place to me. It always served as a passing landmark when heading south on the Interstate 5 Highway, but now I see downtown for what it truly is – a home and a community of passionate families, business owners, and organizers looking to build and expand the city. I had the wonderful opportunity of conducting in-person outreach, meeting community members, and bringing foot traffic downtown. From every wave of hello and every conversation exchanged, I learned that the love and compassion people have for Stockton is much more than the reputation and judgements people are so quick to label the city with.
As I close out my internship at DSA, I’ll be walking away with not only hands-on experience in the marketing industry, but also a newfound appreciation for Stockton. My internship has taught me a lot about myself and the potential I have for accomplishing the things I put my mind to. My time here has helped guide my career aspirations and build within me the confidence to tackle anything I come across in the future.
The DSA wishes Rose all the best on her next adventure. She has been a wonderful help to our organization over the last 6 months. Thanks for everything, Rose! Cheers and hope to see you again!
You can see some of Rose’s Intern Adventures on the DSA Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, and Youtube pages!
If you are interested in an internship with the DSA, contact [email protected].