Project Connect – Women's Soccer’s Carsen Delmont Has Summer Success

Summers for Goucher student-athletes are normally reserved for preparing for the upcoming season, studying abroad, or gaining experience through internships. Summer 2020 was not quite the same. Despite the difficulties, Carsen Delmont (Hampstead, Md./Manchester Valley) – a junior from the women's soccer team – created her opportunity. The Hampstead, Maryland native started her own business called Project Connect, a company that assists businesses with social media management.

What started as just an idea a year ago, blossomed into a full learning experience. Her first client was American Ice Co. Café, a coffee shop that is close to Delmont's home in Hampstead.

"I didn't really put it fully into effect until a few months ago when I started and found clients," explained Delmont. "I talked to the owner and he said 'you're hired' because he's been looking for someone to work with social media for him."

Now with three clients, Delmont runs their Instagram, Facebook, and conducts other social media necessities. Project Connect offers branding, media management, and digital marketing consultation. The business offers management of up to three social media accounts and creates anywhere from one to seven posts each week. These needs are very important for businesses during the pandemic so customers can keep up with deals and specials without going into the store.

"COVID hit a lot of places really hard so places that were just starting to open back up were needing social media to let people know that they were open," said Delmont.

And that is where she came in to help. Her other two clients, Michael's of Hampstead and Magnolia House Studios use Delmont for the same social media management.

"It's really fortunate I get to do what I love and work with social media," said Delmont. "I am really big about aesthetics and layouts and designs and themes. I try to match the vibe of each place with color schemes, which helps to unify the overall look of it and to draw attention."

Delmont has seven personal Instagram accounts that she manages, including an account for her dogs, photography, and her sister's tarot card reading. Juggling these accounts is what gave her the idea for Project Connect.

"If I can run seven accounts by myself, maybe I should be getting money for this," thought Delmont. "I'm good at it. Why not pitch my idea to other businesses? People pay for people to run their Instagram to look nice so maybe I should give it a try. I know that businesses charge a lot of money to do that. There are some premium packages that are 400 dollars a month to run five accounts, which is a lot. I can do that smaller-scale level for local people and get more involved in my community."

In addition to social media management, Delmont helps out at her clients' physical locations.

"My main job is social media," said Delmont. "I still like to help out if I feel like I have a good eye for design. I like picking out flowers and stuff to bring – anything that I want to advise or give a tip for what I think looks nice, they trust me."

For Magnolia House Studios, a crystal spiritual shop, Delmont takes pictures when the store hosts in-house art classes. She also posts a Crystal of the Week segment on social media.

"I'll take a picture of the crystal that I have from their shop and I'll hold it up to a nice background, like aesthetics of plants," Delmont explained.

Delmont might not have had the chance to start her business if summer plans were not altered. She had numerous ideas for the summer including finding an internship, lifeguarding at a pool, going to Greece with the Goucher women's soccer team, and working out. She was still able to lifeguard and exercise, but with the newly freed schedule, Delmont created Project Connect, which was close to her dream job.

"I always wanted to be an Instagram influencer, but then I felt like I wanted to do something a little more than that. I like helping other people instead of helping just myself," said Delmont. "An influencer would just be about me, getting sponsors and post about products."

In July 2020, Goucher College made a major announcement. When the Goucher announced that sports would be postponed until at least January and switched classes to be all online, Delmont felt the impact.

"I love playing soccer and being around the girls on my team," Delmont proclaimed, who has appeared in 32 matches for the Gophers women's soccer team including two starts. She notched her only collegiate point on an assist against Notre Dame in her freshman year. "When I first found out Goucher was continuing the online studies for the fall, I was really upset and I cried a lot and I was upset about not being with my team. Our dynamic and culture on the team are so healthy and strong and I really enjoy being around them. But I don't think looking at negative is going to solve anything so now that I am home I tried to put whatever COVID had given us into positive use."

Despite this semester's athletic season being canceled, there is a possibility that Goucher sports will return in January and the college will return to in-person learning. Delmont would then migrate back to Towson and away from her clients in Hampstead.

"My goal is to continue Project Connect," said Delmont. "I won't be able to get as much in-person content but I will have to stack up on content now while I am at home."

Project Connect has been a positive aspect of Delmont's productive summer. This business has shown her how to network and other essential business procedures.

"Project Connect has really helped me get in touch with other people and it has been a personal journey too," Delmont recounted. "I realized I am capable of doing things I didn't realize before. I have very good people skills and I like to be around people. I have also had more confidence in myself. I have meaning. It has been a personal journey to my significance to what I can contribute to the world."

Delmont has made the most of her time away from Goucher and she has learned practical experience in the process. What is her advice for those that want to find their passion, just as she did?

"I definitely think experience is the biggest thing and figuring out what you want to do," said Delmont. "If you can't find experience, create your own!"

Goucher teaches and instills this resiliency daily to all students. The world is full of challenges, but Delmont's creativity and persistence are an example of how to make it through tough times.