What I Am Thankful for as an Emerging PR Professional
The holiday season has always been a moment of reflection and gratitude for myself and many others. While this typically means expressing more gratitude for my family, friends, home, and health, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for everything I’ve experienced professionally during my time at Grand Valley.
GVPRSSA & GrandPR
The number one professional experience I am thankful for is GVPRSSA and GrandPR. These student organizations have provided me with endless opportunities, including networking, professional development, tours, mentors, and much more. I would not be where I am today without GVPRSSA or GrandPR. It has significantly boosted my confidence in both myself and my work, far beyond what I would have achieved if I had not joined. I have taken on multiple leadership roles, secured several internships, and made history as the first GrandPR student to serve on the advisory board. I have seen personal growth and am proud of myself and my accomplishments.
A new opportunity I took advantage of this year was becoming more involved in the West Michigan Public Relations Society of America (WMPRSA) chapter where I serve on the communications and professional development committee. Here, I can network with professionals and contribute to a bigger part of the public relations community outside of Grand Valley.
The most recent opportunity I was offered was to attend The Plank Summit in Chicago earlier this month through the National Millennial and Gen Z (NMGZ) community. While networking with professionals and students all across the world, I learned more about the ethical usage of artificial intelligence and how it presents intercultural opportunities and challenges. I also got to listen to and support Ana Zapata, GrandPR’s Chief Operations Officer, who spoke on the panel Envisioning the Future of AI, Tech, and PR with Student Leaders.
Internships
The purpose of internships is to gain real-world experience while in school. I am happy to say that every internship I have had has fulfilled its purpose. Along the way, I have created friendships with coworkers and found mentors with years of experience. Through my internships, I have gained and honed a variety of hard skills including email marketing, tracking marketing records, and relationship building, and also soft skills, such as communication, decision-making, time management, organization, prioritization, and analysis. While what we learn in class is useful and valuable, the experience of being able to do the work hands-on, receive feedback, and see how your work is implemented is unmatched.
Artificial Intelligence
While many are still weary of artificial intelligence, I think artificial intelligence has been a helpful tool for me and many other PR professionals. ChatGPT has helped me brainstorm ideas, outline papers, and more. Grammarly corrects any grammatical errors and helps me write more concisely. Canva’s AI Magic Media has generated images for class presentations in seconds. Artificial intelligence will not take over my future job, but someone who can use it effectively and quickly could. I am grateful for my education and experience in artificial intelligence and how it allows me to get projects done quickly. This skill will set me apart from other college graduates during the interview process. AI can and should be used by public relations practitioners for work, however, I would like to emphasize the importance of ensuring ethical usage and omitting sensitive data and information.
Community
Everyone I have met as an advertising and public relations major has been incredibly helpful. Everybody genuinely wants to see you succeed. I am incredibly grateful for my mentors who have consistently taken time out of their busy schedules to guide me, my internship supervisors who treat me like a valued team member rather than just an intern who fetches them coffee, and the professionals who have generously set up informational interviews to share their expertise with me.
Online Calendar
My holy grail, my bible, my lifeline… Google Calendar. As I started gaining more responsibilities like involvement in student organizations, meetings, and multiple jobs, it became apparent that a traditional paper agenda was not going to work for me any longer. Google Calendar is my constant companion, keeping me organized wherever I go. It sends me notifications reminding me that I have a meeting in an hour, I have a paper due in 3 days, or my roommate sends me a calendar invite to go to the movies during the weekend. Everything that I do during the day, even what I am making for dinner, goes into my Google Calendar.
Thank you
Thanksgiving is a season to recognize all that you are grateful for. So, thank you to GVPRSSA & GrandPR for the professional development opportunities and friendships, thank you to the internship supervisors who have all been great educators, and thanks to the welcoming PR community not just on Thanksgiving, but every day. Happy Turkey Day!
About Abby
Abby is a senior majoring Advertising & Public Relations and receiving a social media badge, as well as a leadership certificate. Abby started as an account associate with an emphasis in design her sophomore year, became the creative director her junior year, and is now GrandPR's first Chief Communications Officer. She has held internships in social media for Honey Bee Gardens Farm, community relations at Lake Michigan Credit Union, and is currently the marketing intern for West Michigan Tourist Association.