Meet the Intern: Cecilia
Shout out to our new face: Cecilia!!! We’re excited to have her join our team as a Summer/Fall Digital Marketing Coordinator Intern. Cecilia has been a rock star to work with thus far. Has jumped right in and has hit the ground running. Meet, Cecilia!
Name: Cecilia Gillen
College: University of South Dakota
Major: Media and Journalism: Emphasis in Strategic Communication
Birthday: April 4th
What projects are you working on at The Sampson House? I am currently managing social media for Marie and Marie Bridal, Prairie Lane Vintage Rentals, and The Sampson House. I’m also working on some proposals for potential new clients and getting The Sampson House on some new social platforms!
What do you spend your time doing when you’re not working on TSH? I love to cook! About a year ago I had no idea how to cook anything. I started a YouTube series called “Cooking with Cecilia” to document my hilarious failures as I learned and now I really enjoy it? I find it really relaxing and obviously really delicious.
Favorite social media platform? Tik Tok! If it gets banned that will be my last straw for 2020.
What are you reading right now? I’m really trying to finish YouTubers: How YouTube Shook Up TV and Created a New Generation of Stars by Chris Stokel-Walker right now. Honestly, finishing a physical book as a Gen Z kid is a little tough. But that’s what bookmarks are for, right?
What is your ideal weekend? My ideal weekend involves sleeping in, eating out and going shopping with friends. Not really possible with covid, so now I just get takeout and watch Netflix by myself:)
What app could you not live without? Google Calendar! It keeps my life color coordinated and somewhat in order.
What’s your go-to coffee beverage? It’s a toss up between cold brew with cream and an iced chai. Depends if I want to GO FAST or be chill.
When did you develop an interest in marketing? I actually started my career path in journalism! I really wanted to be an anchor for a national news station or an investigative journalist just uncovering stuff left and right. I quickly discovered this work was a little too stressful for me and didn’t allow me to fully express my creativity. I definitely have mad respect for journalists now. Long story short, I moved over to the marketing side of my major and made my home there! My passions for writing, strategic planning and research are still at work, just in different ways.
What drew you to The Sampson House? A former intern and employee for The Sampson House, Milana Arambasic, visited one of my classes and told us about the projects she got to help with during her internship with The Sampson House and how it helped her boost her career. I really liked the idea of being able to work with a small team and get hands-on learning with real projects. I also really loved that it was a female-founded company!
Favorite way to blow off steam? Scream-singing “Shadow” by Kesha or “Vienna” by Billy Joel. This can be done in the car or in front of a mirror at home.
If you could have lunch with one person, who would it be and what would you order?
I would have lunch with Jonathan Van Ness from Queer Eye! He has the most infectious personality and I’d love to know what he thinks the best haircut would be for me. I’d order something easy to eat that won’t get stuck in my teeth.
Best advice you’ve ever received? “I deserve better.” An old boss told me this many years ago and I’ve sort of taken it on as a life mantra. It’s a reminder to hold myself to such a high standard that I only accept the best into my life whether that’s through my work, relationships and even how I treat myself.
What’s your favorite thing about your internship? I love being able to bounce around and work on a bunch of different projects at once! There’s definitely a lot of opportunity for me to branch out and gain experience in the areas I want and I really appreciate that.
What’s your ultimate bucket-list travel destination? Greece! I want to live out all of my Mamma Mia dreams including but not limited to: bell bottoms, singing every single song from both movies, and the part where Cher shows up.
Favorite restaurant? It’s another toss-up between Blue Sushi in Nebraska and McDonalds. I’m a college student with class, okay. It’s truffle salmon or chicken nuggets. No in between.
3 interesting things about you:
I was not named after the Simon & Garfunkel song, contrary to popular belief. I was actually named after my great grandpa, Cecil. Interestingly enough though, if I was a boy my parents were going to name me Justice, not Cecil.
I am the least athletic person you will ever meet. I don’t have one coordinated bone in my body and I know absolutely nothing about sports. I maybe understand volleyball. And I won a hurdles race one time in middle school. That’s it.
I’m obsessed with neutrals. My ideal house would be decorated in purely neutral colors and I can’t imagine anything more soothing or aesthetically pleasing.
What are you currently listening to on your playlist? I’m exclusively listening to Taylor Swift’s new album, “Folklore.” I’m so obsessed I created a playlist listing the songs in order by how I think they create a cohesive storyline. I call it “Folklore the Musical” and you can find it on Spotify:)
Go-to show on Netflix? I’m obsessed with love reality TV shows. Married at First Sight, 90 Day Fiance, and Love is Blind are my favorites. I have very strong opinions about every couple and I’m happy to debate them at any time.
Favorite pop artist? Kesha. She’s an icon! I saw her a few years ago in Sioux City and it was the best concert ever. Every single song of hers is a verified bop.
Ultimate dream career? I would love to work in influencer marketing for a makeup or clothing brand.
What do you bring to the table here at TSH? I think I bring a new perspective to TSH with my background in journalism and the strong writing and research skills that come along with that. I’ve also had the opportunity at USD to research entertainment potential as it pertains to YouTubers. That research journal is in process of being published and I hope that knowledge can help me offer new ideas to influencer programs TSH works on in the future.
