Combat Boots and PR
Public relations is a career field that involves having a retrospective perspective. By joining the army, I have had an unconventional college experience. Still, it has allowed me to realize that I am passionate about the field due to my love for sharing and communicating with the public. Through these three lessons I have learned in my three years of service, you too can also learn how your life experience will shape who you are in the PR field.
1. Never Give Up
Completing a campaign involves resilience, motivation, and meeting deadlines. I realized the importance of the words “never give up” when I enlisted in the US Army National Guard at 19. I did not fit the stereotypical profile of someone in the army; I am 5'4, female, and 120 pounds. When I arrived at basic combat training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, I tested positive for COVID after getting vaccinated. This unexpected result meant I would have to stay in Oklahoma for an additional two weeks, pushing my job training back. Suddenly I would not be able to start at GVSU in the fall, be dropped from the ROTC program, and even more heartbreaking: I would lose the scholarships I earned. I was in tears; my life felt like it was over. I had no access to my phone for three days and had to quarantine with two other girls; I only had my Bible and a notebook. I had hit rock bottom. I was ready to quit. I had never felt more alone and hopeless. About a week into quarantine, my mom told me my Grandpa had passed away. I was certainly not prepared for the emotions of losing a loved one. Again, I felt like I was a disappointment to the family; I would miss his funeral and never have a chance to say goodbye.
Thankfully, my family was beyond supportive. One thing that my Grandpa continued to say throughout his life was to "never give up." He lived by that motto throughout his battle with a terrible injury that made him partly paralyzed during the later years of his life. With faith, friends, and family, I could get through quarantine and start basic training. This character trait is something that I constantly remind myself of every time I struggle with feeling motivated to complete homework, go to meetings, or train outside in brutal conditions.
2. The Power of Communication
Communication matters. This past year I joined the 126th TPASE, Michigan National Guards Public Affairs unit. I have had the incredible opportunity to help share the story of being in the army through photography, videography, and social media. It has been impactful to learn from different noncommissioned officers and officers within the unit about how to tell stories effectively and communicate with the American public. Through drilling with the unit and picking up a few assignments, I learned that I have a strong passion for military journalism. I also had the opportunity to see firsthand how my education at GVSU and involvement in GrandPR have developed me as a professional in the PR field.
3. Lead By Example
One of the Page principles is to “Prove it with action.” When digging deeper into this principle, it reflects on the power of public perception and how their view of a company is determined 90 percent by what it does and 10 percent by what it says.
Actions speak louder than words, and that was driven home when I went to “Cadet Summer Training,” which is high-intensity training for ROTC students to become officers in the army. Everyone was put in leadership positions through the training to complete a mission. It was interesting to see how people acted as leaders versus how they followed. It was evident that the leaders that were terrible followers lacked the respect of the rest of the platoon, whereas the cadets that were putting their all into each mission were followed with intense vigor.
Just like in the PR world, we strictly focus on messages but sometimes forget to take a step back and look at what the company is doing. Is it fulfilling its mission and values? Understanding that actions speak louder than words is something that I learned and implemented into every campaign.
What I Learned
Through enlisting and completing Basic Combat Training and Cadet Summer training, I learned important lessons that made me more passionate about the public relations field. Since I raised my right hand, I had grown up, figured out how to fend for myself, and, most importantly, persevered when hard things occurred. As cheesy as it sounds, going through the hard times makes the good times even sweeter. So why not enjoy these precious moments in life, and embrace the suck when the bad stuff happens. Going out of one's comfort zone could be joining the military, choosing something new on the menu, or saying hi to some random stranger in the hall. In the end, everyone has stories of how embarking on a crazy journey was a learning experience. Sharing those stories shows how everyone has the perseverance to keep marching on.
About Paige
Paige Bodine is a senior studying Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Writing. She currently is in the Michigan National Guard and is part of the 126th Public Affairs Detachment. Currently Paige serves as the VP of Membership Services for GVSU PRSSA. After graduation, her goal is to work at a local PR firm in Grand Rapids. In her free time, she loves to write and spend time with friends and family. This is Paige’s second semester with GrandPR and is ecstatic to be stepping into an Account Executive roll.