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Southwest Airlines Community

Campus Reach: Serving Up a Piece of Our Hearts

TiffanyV
Employee
Employee

Southwest Airlines has given me more than I could have ever imagined. In my role as the Measurement and Analytics Intern in the Communications and Outreach Department, I analyze different communication campaigns and measure the news and social media coverage on both our internal and external channels. I love being able to help others in my department evaluate the effectiveness of their campaign and help them to set measureable goals for the next one! While attending the University of North Texas, participating in community service events with outside organizations was something near and dear to my heart. After I graduated and started looking for jobs, companies who were good stewards of their communities appealed the most to me. I love what Southwest represents, and that Employees are encouraged to give back to the community. I was ecstatic to learn that our Intern class would be volunteering at the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP). KIPP is a national network of public charter schools aimed at creating higher education for kids from lower income families. The idea of giving kids a better opportunity and instilling into their minds at a young age that they ARE good enough and that they CAN do anything is very empowering. Upon arrival at KIPP Destiny Elementary in Dallas, we selected the volunteer activity we wanted to participate in. Some involved physical tasks, such as moving furniture to help ready the facilities for summer school, while other tasks included cutting sight words, creating a greenhouse, and tutoring kids in math and reading. I love reading, and I love kids, so I immediately knew I wanted to be a reading tutor! It's amazing how even the smallest amount of time spent working with these kids can influence and benefit their futures. My Intern class went to KIPP with the mindset that we were there to help the students. While that may still be true, I feel like what we gained in return was far more enlightening. It’s safe to say we may have left a piece of hearts at the KIPP Foundation.