![]() Hey there! My name is Michael Lopick, PRSSA Kent’s Co-VP of Membership,sophomore public relations major and commuter student. I’m here to tell you, just as the heading implies, that it really is all about the give and take. So, what do I mean by “give and take”? Basically, give and take is my attempt at a metaphor to describe why getting involved on campus is so important for a variety of reasons. As a commuter student, I definitely understand that joining a club or organization can be tough, but I’m here to say that with a bit of compromising and a lot of heart, you can find just how beneficial it can be. Here’s what you have to GIVE Committing to anything is a challenge, especially when it seems like you have so many other priorities that already occupy most of your time. Between classes, homework, family and friends, how can you squeeze one more thing in? Well, here’s where you have to give a little and use those time management skills you learned in those freshman First Year Experience classes you took (bet you thought you’d never hear about those again). Most times, committing seems a lot more daunting than it really is, and you just have to take the plunge. You’ll often find that it’s easier to schedule than it seems, and those organizations are very good at working around your personal agenda. Once you commit, the real giving begins. Don’t join an organization if you’re not planning on being active in it. This means you actually have to go to meetings, sign up for committees and be the one that other members can depend on. Just saying you’re part of an organization doesn’t cut it. You have to be able to show what you’ve done. Now, I’m not saying you need to be a multitasking maniac, but make sure you do at least one activity with your group per semester, especially if you pay dues. Get your money’s worth! After all that work, here’s what you’re going to TAKE
Where to look There are a ton of places and organizations on-campus offering amazing opportunities that relate to your area of study including: - PRSSA (of course!) - Franklin Advertising Association - Flash Communications - IdeaBase - The Student Recreation and Wellness Center Just to name a few! Now go out, be fearless and get involved! Follow Michael on Twitter @michaellopick
0 Comments
![]() If you attended our first meeting last week but aren’t quite convinced about joining the Kent Chapter of PRSSA, read these top 10 reasons to join the Public Relations Student Society of America. 10. You can make new friends. By attending our Chapter meetings, you’re able to talk to and get to know other PRSSA members and officers. It’s a great place to meet driven, like-minded people! 9. You can take part in a national PR competition. PRSSA Kent participates in theBateman Case Study Competition each year. Two teams of five dedicated PRSSA students compete against schools across the nation to create and implement a public relations campaign. All team members must be PRSSA members and invited by PR faculty to participate. Last year, the PRSSA Kent Bateman Blue Team placed second in the nation! 8. You can attend a national conference. Meet members from Chapters across the country by attending the PRSSA National Conference. The conference is held in a different location every year. This year, students will travel to Philadelphia, PA, to network with professionals, attend informational sessions and more. 7. You’re eligible for more than $20,000 in scholarships and awards. PRSSA itself offers $20,000 in scholarships. Other organizations also offer awards to students who participate in PRSSA. 6. You can be a leader. Whether you’re a sophomore or a senior, everyone is welcome to apply for aleadership position during Spring semester. PRSSA officers learn to sharpen their leadership skills and put them to use throughout their term of office. 5. You can take what you learn in class and put it to work. Join PRSSA committees to hone event planning and fundraising skills. Our chapter works with Kent State’s Ad Club to plan and execute a networking event called Communications Connection. You can also help plan the annual YouToo Social Media Conference and work with Akron PRSA professionals. Some of these committees are formed with the sole purpose of raising money for our Chapter to fund trips to PRSSA National Conference or for worldwide charities to fund cancer research. 4. You can boost your resume. Some employers are specifically looking to hire PRSSA alumni. Show your involvement, experience and leadership skills by putting PRSSA activities on your resume. 3. You can receive mentorship from officers and advisers. PRSSA Kent’s officers are dedicated to making your membership experience worthwhile. If you have questions about the organization, PR courses, internships and more, the PRSSA officers are ready and willing to answer them. 2. You can network with students interested in similar fields. Your public relations classmates today will be professionals in the workforce in a few years. The connections you make with your peers in PRSSA could help you land your dream job in the future. 1. You can network with professionals. PRSSA Kent not only invites professionals to our Chapter meetings to speak about their experiences in public relations, we also attend events hosted by our parent organization, the Public Relations Society of America, or PRSA. These events are designed specifically for PRSSA members and are held both in-person and online via Twitter. Additionally, we invite around 20 professionals to network specifically with Kent students in November at Communications Connection. The professionals you meet through PRSSA may be your key to a job after graduation. For more information about membership, visit the PRSSA Kent website. Anyone in the wrong major knows all about the sinking feeling you get when you calculate how soon graduation is. It’s scary to think of receiving a degree in something you don’t enjoy! That feeling also comes around when you schedule more classes you don’t really enjoy or when you have to look for an internship or job you don’t think you’ll like. It’s clear you need something new, but what if you don’t know where to turn?
I’ve been there. I’m Ryan Collins, the online media manager for PRSSA Kent. I love working with PRSSA, but how did I get here? I was a journalism major for almost two years. I knew I loved to write as a kid, so I thought journalism was a natural choice for me. I tried all kinds of student media, but I never felt totally satisfied. Thankfully, with the help of some caring friends, I decided to take a leap of faith and finally become an ex-journalism major. I switched to public relations. Ever since I switched, I have set myself on a crash course learning PR. I need to buy a button like this and wear it all the time: I have a job working at Flash Communications, the student PR agency in Kent State’s University Communication and Marketing department. Here are some of my favorite things about PR
PS. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports employment of PR specialists is expected to grow 24 percent from 2008-2018. Once again, I love this field for its positive outlook! [Cross-posted and adapted from Student PR.] |
Archives
February 2024
Categories
All
|