In the summer of 2024, I had the privilege of being a UI/UX intern with Mon Ami. Both interface and experience are integral to designing anything, and I knew what it meant to make effective art, intuitive video games, and meaningful work. I didn’t anticipate how much it would move me to be a part of something greater.

At Mon Ami, I designed software for Area Agencies on Aging across the US to help older adults stay safe, build community, and flourish. I got to rework a module called “Events,” which faces both Agencies and their clients, and helps track attendance. I created solutions for 6 stories, 4 of which were ready to be implemented at the end of the summer.

Not only was the product fulfilling, but the process was, too. I had regular 1:1 time with my incredible mentor, Head of Design and VP Alan Sheu. (He’s written me a letter of rec that I hold both close to my heart and very publicly on this website.) I also received generous advice from UX Designer Songhyun Ji, who always seems to know how to ask the right questions without giving away the answer.

I spend a lot of time in my classes on gender, labor, and politics, learning about how the systems that produce profit steal from the proletariat and ultimately fuel fascism. As much as I agree with this, I simply love to work, and I’m incredibly lucky that I get to practice rituals as important as care, conversation, and the development of material change in my livelihood.