Reed Haas, a junior majoring in Statistics at U of I, is currently completing his first semester as a Social Media Data Analyst Lead with the ATLAS Internship Program. After learning about the opportunity through department emails and newsletters, he saw the internship as an introductory experience in applying statistics from classwork into real-world applications. It also helps him build on statistical skills he already has while also gaining new insights from hands-on experience and client feedback. Reed was placed with the Student Money Management Center, where he focuses on evaluating the impact of social media strategies. He conducts statistical analyses to determine how calls to action (such as encouraging users to like, share, or engage with the post) influence audience interaction across different platforms. Additionally, he examines hashtag effectiveness, comparing general hashtags to those specific to Urbana-Champaign. To improve efficiency in analyzing all this data, he designs a set of R functions that automate data transformation, ensuring that raw information is neatly formatted for him and clients to look at. Throughout the internship, Reed strengthens his technical expertise in R programming, data visualization, and IT accessibility. He also becomes well-versed in Microsoft Teams as a tool for collaboration with clients and other interns. Being a social media analyst also challenges him to refine his communication, presentation, and leadership capabilities, making him a more confident and effective team member. One major takeaway from his experience is the sheer importance of communication. Whether working with clients or collaborating with a team, clear and open dialogue is crucial for successful projects. In the future, Reed hopes to pursue a career as a data analyst or scientist, ideally for a sports franchise. Outside of internship work and school, his favorite movie is Baby Driver.