September 19, 2024

Written by: Kena Oropeza

When I first heard about Starfish Project, I thought it was a classic jewelry business like any other. However, after arriving at Starfish as an intern, my whole perspective changed. 

On my first day at the distribution center, I was greeted by my coworker and presented to the many volunteers who come in to package orders. I could tell right away that here, there is a close-knit team and a sense of community. Even though I was the newest member, I felt welcomed right away. The volunteers would make conversation with me, asking about school and what I’m majoring in, and get to know me better overall. My coworker would involve me by teaching me how to use Shopify to print orders and how to package the orders correctly. Although most of the time I was busy doing work in my office, I was always given a smile by everyone once I stepped outside my room.

I wasn’t able to meet the majority of the Starfish Project team in person, however, I still felt the connection through the screen. During video calls, my supervisor and the women working at the office were excited to meet me and always had kind words to say.

The women always had smiles on their faces and were super engaged during the calls. I was glad to see everyone in a positive environment! I was a part of the marketing department, and during the video calls, the team would analyze all the data to see what has been successful and what we can improve. It was fascinating to see how much customers engage with our social media posts. I had the opportunity to create content for social media, and I always focused on showing the beauty and fine details of the jewelry. It was exciting to see that a few of my content creations were near the top of the most liked of the month!

The blogs posted on the Starfish Project website are proof that the contributions that the Starfish company and customers are making are changing the lives of many women, and I am extremely grateful that I was able to be a part of it this summer.