During my sophomore year at the University of South Carolina, I got the chance to
work as a Bumble Campus Brand Ambassador. My job was to help promote Bumble
through social media, campus events, and creative campaigns that encouraged students
to use the app safely and confidently. I worked with another ambassador to plan pop-up
events, hand out merch, and find fun ways to connect Bumble’s brand message with the
college audience. At first, I was honestly nervous. I did not know how people would
respond or if they would even stop to talk to us. My first event was on the Horseshoe, and I
remember setting up the table, organizing the giveaways, and trying to get people’s
attention. Over time, I became more confident speaking to students, posting engaging
content, and coming up with creative ways to represent Bumble’s brand. By the end of the
semester, I felt proud of what my team and I had accomplished. We did not just get people
to download the app. We helped make Bumble a familiar name on campus. We created a
fun and approachable image that people recognized and felt comfortable with. It was not
just about passing out merch or promoting a dating app. It was about creating genuine
connections. Looking back, I realize that the purpose of this experience went beyond
marketing. It was really about understanding people and learning how to communicate in a
way that feels real. Bumble’s message focuses on empowerment and respect, and I
wanted to make sure that came across in everything I did. I saw a lot of connections
between what I was doing in this role and what I learned in my Mass Communications
classes, especially about knowing your audience, creating a consistent brand voice, and
communicating ethically.
One thing I learned quickly is that people can always tell when something feels
forced. On a college campus, you have to be authentic. I learned how to adjust my
approach depending on who I was talking to. I stayed casual and friendly with students,
professional with club leaders, and more analytical when sending reports to our Bumble’s
campus team leader. If I had done this same job in a corporate setting, it probably would
have been a lot more focused on analytics and less on personal interaction. Being on a
campus helped me see how important face-to-face communication is when it comes to
building trust with a brand. This experience also made me think more deeply about my
major. It made me wonder how much control companies should give to student
ambassadors. How influencers can stay authentic while promoting brands, and what
ethical promotion really means. Those questions stayed with me and changed how I think
about influencer marketing, transparency, and honesty in media.

My biggest takeaway from being a Bumble ambassador is that real communication
is not just about getting attention. It is about building trust. Before this job, I used to think
success in marketing was all about numbers and engagement rates. Now I know that those
things matter, but what matters more is how your audience feels about your message.
When people trust you, they listen, and that is what creates real influence. I can also see
how this experience connects directly to what I have learned in class. I learned about how
people respond to messages and how communication shapes behavior. Through Bumble, I
got to apply those lessons in a real setting and see the results for myself. It taught me that
even small interactions can have a big impact when they are genuine and thoughtful. For
my artifact, I am including pictures of the events that were held here at the University of
South Carolina. These include BOO baskets, tabling events, and spreading Bumble’s brand
on social media.
This experience changed the way I see myself and my future. Whether I go into
social media, sales, or a different job field. I will take what I learned from Bumble with me.
It taught me that communication is not just about getting your message across. It is about
making people feel like they are part of something. That lesson is something I will carry on throughout my life.