intern Archives - Downtown Stockton Alliance

By: Catalina F.G.

This week, we have a farewell blog from Catalina Franco-Gomez, the DSA’s recent Stocktonian intern:

Hey everyone!

I am Catalina Franco-Gomez aka Mz Bling✨and I’m a proud Stocktonian. I am a first-generation university student at the University of the Pacific. I am studying in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and Media. I work for University of the Pacific Athletics as a marketer and street team member. I also volunteered for the live TEDXUOP event that took place in Spring of 2025. My role was marketer, social media content handler, and receptionist. And of course, I worked for Downtown Stockton Alliance as a marketing intern for Summer 2025 and won’t forget this experience! Let me tell you more!

What are my roles?

During my amazing experience, I had many roles and duties. All are fun and exciting, I promise. As a photographer, I got to go around Downtown and take pictures, of nature, people, sites, and events. As well as businesses helping them reach their audiences. I was also the merch model. As a drone driver, even though I was just a beginner, I got the hang of controlling one, and got to take shots and video above downtown. I attended events as a DSA representative with my other wonderful intern partners and sell merch while giving out our giveaways! For the social media aspect, I got to repost and create new ones for events and highlighting businesses in our area. I even got to be a journalist for writing blogs and information about events and businesses. I also got to create videos about attending events and to make everyone aware what was happening in Downtown. They are called Intern Adventures and can be found on our IG, FB, and YouTube!

Let’s not forget

I want to deeply thank the Downtown Stockton Alliance for this wonderful, exciting opportunity that I got to experience, in just 3 months! Everyone in the DSA was very professional, polite, and welcoming. A real business and supporting the city, feeling. Because of this opportunity I got to experience all the great things that I did! I learned things that I never tried before and faced some challenging ones.

Thank you and SHOUT OUT to DOWNTOWN STOCKTON ALLIANCE ! One of these days I will drop by to see what’s happening✌️

The DSA wishes Catalina all the best on her next adventure. She has been a wonderful help to our organization over the last 3 months. Thanks for everything, Catalina! Cheers and hope to see you again!

You can see some of Catalina’s Intern Adventures on the DSA Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube pages!

If you are interested in an internship with the DSA, contact [email protected].

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By Sungyeon Park

This week, we have a farewell blog from Sungyeon Park, the DSA’s recent Korea WEST exchange program intern:

Hello!

My name is Sungyeon, and I’m from South Korea. I had the incredible opportunity to work as a marketing intern at the Downtown Stockton Alliance through the WEST Program. During my college years in Korea, I spent two semesters in the U.S. as an exchange student—and I absolutely loved the experience. That experience got me interested in American culture, and I began dreaming of one day working in the U.S. I was fortunate to be selected for a 6-month internship in Downtown Stockton, California.

Discovering a Hidden Gem

To be honest, I hadn’t heard about Stockton before my internship. Moving to a new city alone was a bit scary at first, especially because everything felt so unfamiliar. But it didn’t take long for those fears to go away, especially after experiencing the kindness of the local community. Downtown Stockton turned out to be a welcoming place, full of hidden stories and nice people.

First Steps into the Marketing World

This internship was my very first hands-on experience in marketing, and it taught me so much. I got to create various types of content—from blog posts to short-form videos—and worked closely with many amazing local businesses. These experiences helped me build not only my skills but also my confidence. I was lucky to work with such kind and supportive people who made me feel comfortable and supported, both in the office and in the city.

A New Dream

After six months, I can honestly say that this internship changed my life. Working in the U.S., meeting people from different backgrounds, and experiencing the culture firsthand made me realize how much I enjoy this environment. It opened my eyes to a bigger world and gave me the courage to chase new dreams. Now, I hope to come back and continue growing in the marketing field here someday.

This internship was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made—truly memorable. I’m so grateful to everyone I met and worked with. Thank you for everything, and I hope to see you again someday!

The DSA wishes Sungyeon all the best on her next adventure. She has been a wonderful help to our organization over the last 6 months. Thanks for everything, Sungyeon! Cheers and hope to see you again!

You can see come of Sungyeon’s Intern Adventures on the DSA Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube pages!

To learn more about the Korea WEST exchange program, click here: https://www.icceusa.com/programs-in-the-usa/korea-west/.

If you are interested in an internship with the DSA, contact [email protected].

Tag: intern

My amazing 3-month Downtown Stockton Internship experience

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By: Catalina F.G.

What are my roles?

Let’s not forget

My Memorable 6-Month Internship at Downtown Stockton Alliance

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By Sungyeon Park

Discovering a Hidden Gem

First Steps into the Marketing World

A New Dream