My Week as a Social Media Manager: A Slow Start, New Ideas, and I Got an Intern

This week started off on a slower note for me. I wasn’t feeling well—tired, drained, and unable to focus. Brainstorming is a big part of what I do. But when the mind isn’t sharp, it’s almost impossible to create good content. So, I allowed myself to rest and recover first. Burnout is real, and I’ve learned that pushing through exhaustion usually just makes things worse.

Though my energy was low, ideas were still floating around in my head. The challenge was figuring out how to organise them. I turned to ChatGPT for some structure—mainly to map out the order in which to share the content I’d already prepared and the new ideas I had in mind for YCD’s pages.

Here’s what I was working with:

- A series of quote posts I designed on Canva.

- Interviews with YCD volunteers, where I asked them about their experiences and work with us.

- A follow-up post for our solar bag project, which I wanted to approach in a more deep and creative way.

The question was: how do I arrange all of this so it feels consistent and engaging? Some of these posts seem simple at first glance, but the real task is finding fresh, interesting ways to present them so they grab attention. That’s where my focus is right now—turning “good ideas” into content that connects.

Speaking of the solar bag project, I started gathering more information for the second post about it. This time, I want to spotlight the community we’re working with and the impact this project will bring. I also got some great photos from our director, who just returned from the field, which will make the story even stronger.

Honestly, things still feel a bit scattered with this batch of content. Most of it is in the “idea” or “creation” stage, and it sometimes takes a while before everything comes together in a natural flow. But once it does, it usually feels effortless. I’m still waiting for that flow to kick in this week as I organise and create.

Now, the biggest surprise of my week: I got an intern! I wasn’t expecting it at all. Out of nowhere, I was told that a journalism student wanted to work with me to learn about digital communication.

This caught me a little off guard because while I’ve been planning to take on interns in the future—especially YCD volunteers who are interested in digital communications—I wasn’t ready for it to happen so soon. But I saw it as an opportunity. If someone is motivated enough to reach out, why not create a space for them to grow?

The intern is about to start studying journalism at university, and she wants practical knowledge in digital communication as she dives into her program. I asked her to start by writing down her expectations—what she wants to learn from me and during this internship so that we can set real goals and make sure she learns something useful.

It feels a bit surreal to suddenly find myself in the position of mentoring someone. It's my first time working with an intern. I didn’t plan for this now, but I’m excited. It’s a chance to share what I know and play a role in shaping someone else’s career path. And really, that’s what YCD is all about—empowering young people, building skills, and creating opportunities.

Related: Milestones, Solar Bags, and Back-to-School: My Recent Weeks as a Nonprofit Social Media Manager

So, while my week started off slow and disorganised, it ended with a fresh sense of purpose. Sometimes the unexpected moments remind you why you do what you do.