At Resolve, we believe that developing a strong, intentional, and multi-layered internship program provides great benefits to the individuals who choose to intern with us, to us as an organization, and to our industry at large. We greatly appreciate the value and expertise that all Resolve interns and fellows bring to the table, and our staff works hard to create a valuable, meaningful experience that will support them in their future endeavors.

Recently, we caught up with Deesarine Ballayan, Resolve’s Spring/Summer 2024 Data Reporting Intern, to learn more about her experience. Check out what she had to say below.

How would you describe this internship experience to others?

Life-altering. My previous internship was in traditional media, and although I enjoyed that, it was somewhat depressing to think that that was all there was to journalism. But my internship with Resolve gave new life to my love of journalism. It was challenging at times, but only because it challenged my preconceived notions of the field. I had several awakening moments here regarding my own place in journalism.

How would you describe the culture at Resolve Philly?

Welcoming and honest. Real.

Looking back, what do you wish you would have known before starting this internship?

More about coding. Although I did take a data journalism course in undergrad, I still felt underprepared. There’s simpler ways to learn and Julie Christie definitely focused on that. It was nice. But I think the fact that the internship was about six months and not semester-long definitely gave me the space to make more mistakes and learn from them. Time gave me the confidence to troubleshoot on my own. Even if I’m still not right.

What has been most rewarding about your work?

Honestly Asana (our project management platform). I know it’s a relatively small part of Resolve, but it was so nice tracking my progress and having something to look back on to explain the processes I went through. It was kind of like a professional journal. It really made me realize the importance of writing down what you’re doing in the day and what you got out of it and what you want next.

What’s next for you?

While interning, I started my Masters in Journalism at Temple University. I am on track to graduate next summer.