Tag: Public Relations

Dear PR Majors

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Dear public relations majors,

I would like to offer up a few words of advice in regards the fast-paced, stressful, wonderful, insane industry we have grown to love in between all of the chaos.

First, I wanted to share the best advice I have ever been given. Sophomore year I was in the middle of a visual campaign when every possible thing seemed to be going wrong, and my professor told me, “Make it work.” Profound huh? Well in public relations there is a 110 percent chance that things will not go according to plan, no matter how well you plan. A client will change their mind about what they want months into a campaign, a venue will cancel the week before a big event, or just when all is seeming to go well – a crisis will come forth. That is the beauty of PR though, we are the chosen few who make things better. So when it feels like nothing is going right and you are drowning in chaos – be resourceful, take things one  step at a time, think outside of the box, ask for help – and you will make it work.

Secondly, I know that we all live and die by our Erin Condrens (or Emily Leys or Lilly Pulitzers or insert favorite planner here) but do not let take away from truly living. There have been far too many times I have missed out on really enjoying myself because I didn’t pencil it in. I love the fact that I am obsessively organized, punctual and time efficient, but it has also been my fatal flaw in truly living my life. So let’s stop glorifying busy and write in a little wiggle room so we can start enjoying things a little more.

My next word of advice is stop letting competition discourage you and start making it inspire you. Public relations majors are notoriously competitive, always fighting for the next big internship, leadership position or opportunity – and that constant clawing to be at the top of the totem pole can be utterly exhausting and disheartening. Stop thinking about your peers’ resumes and just focus on being the best at what you do. As I have said before, I would rather have friends in high places. Let’s all make a collective decision to stop with the underhanded brags and competition and just encourage one another.

Lastly, explore. PR is so multifaceted, between media relations, event planning, crisis communications, integrated marketing and the other million sides of the industry – it can be easy to feel lost. It is okay to not have a staunch answer when people ask what you want your focus to be, but what is not okay is if you are not exploring to find what that answer is. Finding your calling is a journey and 4 years is usually not long enough to make that destination. So calm down, take a deep breath, and explore away.

Best,

Natalie Adams

10 Promises to Senior Year

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This morning I stood manning the Relay for Life booth at the UGA orientation activities fair, scanning the sea of the school’s freshest new faces and wondering how on earth it has already been 3 years since that was me.

In the cliché blink of an eye I have somehow gone from wide eyed freshman to terrified senior.

And with the final year of my carefree youth approaching at a horrifying speed, I have decided to make myself some promises to get the most out of my senior year.

1. Start Saving More Money

Seems fairly straightforward, but it is something I have managed to do fairly little of (I mean, working for free really leaves a lot of money leftover for saving, right?), but in a year I am going have rent and a call phone bill and you know, other adult things, so I am promising to live beneath my means and put some away for a rainy day (overpriced Atlanta apartment).

2. Stop Making Decisions with Everyone Else in Mind

Selfish right? Well I have decided that I am going to stop taking everyone else’s opinion when deciding what to do with my own life. Not that I am not appreciative of insight, I just refuse to live a life that is a culmination of what other people want for me. The biggest thing I have learned in college? Life is way too short to live someone else’s life for any part of it.

3. Stop Eating like I am Still a Freshman

Yep. No more large pizzas just because it is a Tuesday night and they are $5. Taco Bell is not a place that should be making up a (significant) part of my diet anymore. This year I promise to learn to love the salad and embrace cooking at home.

4. Go with the Flow

I vow to stop being so obsessive over things that I cannot change/things I really do not even need to worry about. Deep Breaths.

5. Get Really Good at Something New

I am thinking running or brewing beer. Maybe both.

6. Make More Time for Friends

Internships and clubs and volunteering are great don’t get me wrong, but your people are what really count once we have to leave this place. I promise to take a few more nights off working and make some more memories with the people that matter most.

7. Plan a Bomb Post Grad Trip

I am going to need a buffer before hitting the swing of full-blown adulting.

8. Do Something More to Help Others

Remember not to get too caught up in the hustle and bustle to stop remembering that serving is what we are all called to do.

9. Do More for Myself

Selfish promise numero dos. But really, I promise to take a little time each day to do something for myself.

10. Get to Know a Professor Better

Something I have tried to do more lately, but getting on the good side of a professor is not a privilege to take lightly. I can use all the recommendations I can get.