Meet Betty Lam – The PartnerTulsa Intern Helping Tell Tulsa’s Story
Tell us a little about your background. What experiences or interests have shaped your path, and what are your goals for the future?
I’m originally from Vietnam and currently pursuing my Bachelor’s Degree in Media Studies and Film Studies at The University of Tulsa. My love for creativity and storytelling has been nurtured since I was a kid. I love reading and watching movies because they show me how diverse types of life that I can possibly experience. I’ve learned more about the world, the culture, and the people. This love eventually transformed into my passion for storytelling and community development. I desire to bring more stories to the public, hoping to inspire ones to follow their dreams and foster understanding about diverse aspects of life. This idea might seem big, but it is the core inspiration for my future goal. I believe that media is a great tool to help stories reach more people, especially when people consume and communicate more through social media platforms nowadays. My ultimate goal is to become a marketer/social media manager who can help organizations, brands, and individuals to get the stories out there, aiming to bring a positive impact on underserved communities.
What’s your connection to Tulsa? What inspired you to pursue an internship with PartnerTulsa?
I’ve been living in Tulsa for almost 4 years now and I cannot stop falling in love with this city. I visited Tulsa in March 2022 for a college tour with my high school friends. My first impression was “Wow, this city is so green and artsy!” The moment I saw Tulsa’s architecture, streets, and its nature, I was sold and decided to go here for college. The more I live in Tulsa, the more I see how energetic, creative, and connected the community is. Tulsa has been developing a lot in recent years, and I think it is time for more people to hear more about Tulsa and its lovely people. PartnerTulsa stood out to me because of its mission to invest and develop Tulsa as the city for the sake of its community. This internship allowed me to learn more about wonderful projects that The City of Tulsa is planning and proceeding, and I’m honored to help them turn these projects into stories that can reach more people – to let people know how awesome Tulsa is and will become. I feel grateful to get to know PartnerTulsa and have this opportunity to work with someone who shares the same goal and dream as mine.
What has been your biggest takeaway from this internship experience? Is there a particular lesson, project, or moment that stands out?
It might sound funny but I’ve developed a new interest in real estate since starting my internship with PartnerTulsa. With its strong focus on economic and community development, PartnerTulsa has led many impactful projects that support local residents in meaningful ways, from increasing housing opportunities in North Tulsa to providing resources and support for small businesses to grow and thrive. To me, making someone feel welcome and truly at home begins with providing not only a safe, stable place to live but also real opportunities to build a future and stay. I’ve seen how much care and effort PartnerTulsa has invested in doing exactly that. I’m grateful for a chance to be here, to share their stories, and to support them in building a better life here in Tulsa.
If someone were visiting Tulsa for the first time, what’s one local favorite or hidden gem you’d make sure they didn’t miss?
I have a long list that I can definitely share with them. If they love arts, Tulsa has various museums, galleries, and art markets to explore, for example, Philbrook Museum of Art, the “arts district,” Guthrie Green, Gilcrease Museum, etc. First Friday Art Crawl is an iconic event that they should not miss out on if they visit Tulsa during the first Friday of the month. If they love nature, Tulsa has many beautiful places, including the Gathering Place, Woodward Park, etc. If they love shopping, Woodland Hills mall is definitely a to-go or they can also experience the Tulsa Premium Outlets. There’s so much to do in Tulsa, and there’s always something for everyone.