Maria Otero

How did you hear about your internship?

I came upon an internship opportunity with Boy with a Ball on Handshake for their communication broadcast team. Instantly, I was intrigued and after further research, I fell in love with their mission and goals as a nonprofit organization. Boy with a Ball’s mission is to better cities by reaching at-risk youth and equipping them to turn and transform their own communities. Boy with a Ball has its headquarters in Lawrenceville, GA but consists of many more teams here in the U.S. such as San Antonio and Boston. They also have various teams in Latin America, Africa, and soon in the Middle East.

What has been the most valuable (or favorite) part of the experience?

Perhaps one of the most valuable parts of my experience is being able to take part in events such as Camp Overcomers and Read, Write, to Lead. These events have given me the opportunity to witness firsthand their love and devotion to the youth in the community. Being a part of their program, Love Your City, has also allowed me to meet not on the children in the community where they serve but also the families. It was very beautiful to hear their stories and the impact that Boy with a Ball has made in their lives.

How will this help you in the future?

Boy with a Ball is very purposeful with the content and message they wish to portray so taking on this opportunity allowed me to challenge myself as a writer and content creator. This opportunity has allowed me to understand how a nonprofit operates and how each department functions as a team. They have also allowed me to explore PR strategies which is something I look forward to seeing come to fruition.