One Little Spark; how a freelance opportunity changed my life

This guest blog post was written by Amy Castro, the social media manager for The Collective. Amy's transformed our business and we are so thankful for her!

It’s been one month.

One full month since a quick Zoom call about a potential job opportunity. One month since the conversation went better than expected - relaxed, friendly, and surprisingly aligned with what I had been dreaming about, but quietly doubting.  It ended with me sharing a mock-up of a potential project they might like. They didn’t just like it, they loved it, and just like that, I had the green light to get started.

I had all but written off this career path. Not because I didn’t believe in my abilities, but because my job search experience had made me question them. Applications left unread, interviews that felt good ended with ghosting, and a few rejections that came back so fast it felt like no one even reviewed what I sent. I started to think maybe I’d simply aged out of the role I wanted. That my experience didn’t matter. That companies only wanted recent college grads with TikTok clout. That I simply wasn’t enough.

But the truth is, I didn’t want to be an influencer. I wanted to create. To film and edit content that actually connected with people. To write captions and blog posts that made people feel something. To put my creativity and work ethic to good use and feel like it mattered.

I just needed someone to give me a chance.

After 18+ months of searching, that chance finally came through a friend-of-a-friend situation. The job hadn’t even been posted yet. It was just a casual referral and a “you’d be perfect for this” kind of conversation. That friend, who also came into my life in a totally serendipitous way, saw potential in me that I was no longer seeing in myself. She pushed me to think bigger and move forward with confidence, knowing my skills and energy were exactly what this new opportunity needed.

And the best part? The company’s mission truly spoke to me: a female-founded program that helps entrepreneurs get started with real tools, guidance, and support. Exactly what I wish I had when I started my cookie business years ago. Something that I believe will prove so valuable to so many people hoping to build their dream, instead of building it from a cubicle for someone else. It just felt… right. 

So, I jumped in.

I created. I edited. I designed. I offered feedback and strategy. I suggested bio revamps and content themes. I created two months' worth of content in less than three weeks. I loved every minute of it. I felt energized. Engaged. Fulfilled. And more than anything, I felt like me again.

Now, a month later, I’m reminded that I have something valuable to offer, not just at home, but out in the world. My creativity, strategy, and drive have a place. And it feels so good. I’m looking ahead, eager to keep pushing forward. To grow my skillset. To learn new platforms and techniques. To keep building something meaningful.

I’m sharing this because for a long time, I thought my window had closed. I stopped applying for the kinds of roles I actually wanted. I told myself it just wasn’t in the cards for me, in this chapter of life.

But this opportunity was still waiting for me. Not through an algorithm or a job board, but through real human connection. Through someone who believed in me enough to speak my name in the rooms I never thought I had permission to enter. Through women who chose to build their own paths instead of waiting for someone to hand them a map.

Sometimes all it takes is one little spark to light a fire. That fire is once again burning in me.

To learn more about The Collective and discover more about what Amy is helping us build, click here.