Student Name: Luana Marques
Year: Junior
Major: BUS ADM/MARKETING
Career aspirations: Landing a marketing job and building my brand in beauty & makeup, and storytelling.
Internship Company & Location (city/state): High Quality Home Therapy
Internship Department: Marketing
Internship Title: Marketing and Rehabilitation Aide Intern
Internship Semester: Spring 2026
Why did you decide to do an internship?
I decided to do an internship because marketing is such a broad field and I wanted to figure out exactly what direction I wanted to go in. I knew I wanted something creative & that I wanted to work for a company that actually aligns with my values. As a first-generation student this also meant a lot to me personally because I wanted to make sure I was setting myself up the right way and doing everything I could to open the right doors. For me, it was never just about finding any internship. It was about finding the right one because working somewhere that genuinely means something to you makes all the difference.
How did you find this internship?
Honestly, it was a happy accident. I couldn’t make it to the career fair because of my cousin’s birthday, but I had a feeling Handshake was the way to go so I started applying every single day after work and that’s literally how I found Dr. Caryn and HQHT. Sometimes things just work out the way they’re supposed to!
What are your main responsibilities or activities at your internship?
I independently manage HQHT’s social media across Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn, creating all content from concepts to publish every week including educational carousel posts, short form videos and photo content. I also design the marketing materials, run client outreach campaigns, and fully customized the Meet the Team page on HQHTherapy.com by writing original bios for every team member and sourcing all their headshots using Tebra CMS.
Are there any significant contributions or accomplishments you would like to share?
One thing I’m really proud of is the flyers I got to create during this internship. Collaborating with Dr. Caryn to design the donation flyer for the HQHT Foundation was really special to me because it was one of those moments where creativity met something that actually matters. The Open House flyer I co-designed hit over 1k views on Instagram in just the first week, which was so exciting to see. I also did a client retention campaign where I personally called 150 past and current patients and because of one of those calls, I actually got a former patient to come back to the company. That one really stuck with me because it showed me that a genuine connection and just having a conversation can make a real difference.
What has been your favorite part of your internship?
Designing the flyers has been so fun but honestly my favorite part is being part of a company that genuinely wants to help as many people as possible get access to free healthcare. Knowing that my work actually contributes to that mission makes everything feel so much more meaningful.
What was the most important thing you learned?
Everything I do matters. Whether it’s a caption, a call to a patient or a flyer, every single thing reflects the brand and serves a real purpose. I came in knowing I wanted to do marketing, but this internship showed me that the small details are actually everything.
Did this internship have any effect on your career choices or majors? I always knew marketing was my thing, but this showed me I really thrive when creativity meets purpose. Being part of something that’s genuinely trying to make a difference made me want to keep chasing that feeling in whatever I do next.
What advice do you have for students about internships?
Start building your LinkedIn now because connections really do matter. While you’re searching to use that time to create a portfolio, Canva is such a great free tool for this. There’s also so many free certifications out there, like the social media marketing course I took on HubSpot that can really help you stand out. As for finding an internship, you have to check every single day and want it badly enough to keep going even when nothing seems to be happening. Handshake is so underrated, that’s exactly how I found mine. And once you’re open to every opportunity that comes your way, even the ones that feel unfamiliar because that’s where the real growth happens. You never know who you’ll meet along the way!
What’s next for you career wise?
I’m really hoping to land a marketing job right after this internship. This experience has shown me so much about what I’m capable of, and I’m just excited to keep going and bring everything I’ve learned into whatever comes next.
