Getting Involved in College: Why Join PRSSA
I remember watching Gilmore Girls in middle school and learning from Paris Geller how important it is not just to get good grades but also to be involved in different programs. This message stays true heading into the end of my senior year. I find myself looking back on the opportunities I have taken during my time at college. Involvement in a variety of programs has made me a more well-rounded person by expanding my professional development, boosting my resume, and building my network.
Being a Professional
Professional development is a large part of growing as a business professional. Attending professional development events has taught me how to hold myself accountable and have deep, meaningful conversations with my peers. When a public relations (PR) professional spoke at PRSSA, for instance, I learned so much about the benefits of LinkedIn and portfolio formatting. Furthermore, another speaker spoke on the benefits of nonverbal communication and how to improve while being in an interview, helping me to carry myself in a professional manner and attitude. At the beginning of my college career, even the thought of the public would keep me up at night. However, joining a professional development group like PRSSA helped me learn from local PR professionals and guest speakers about how to conduct myself in front of a crowd. Alongside presenting to high school and college classrooms through PRSSA’s Outreach Committee, my confidence has really skyrocketed.
Building My Resume
My involvement academically and in extracurriculars each year, continued to boost my resume. I first joined PRSSA in my second semester of Sophomore year, and in my junior year, I joined a PRSSA Outreach Committee and intramural sports. The summer going into junior year, I completed a full-time internship in Ireland after encouragement and recommendation letters from two professors. During my senior year, I continued on the Outreach Committee, attended a two-day agency tour in Chicago with PRSSA, and became a mentor for study abroad. These events provided me with knowledge and opportunities that I would never have been offered without Grand Valley State University and those in the PRSSA program. It is important to show you care outside of class and get involved to expand your perspective and make yourself a more diversified individual. Through my involvement in PRSSA I realized the significance it had on my resume and set me up in my career search. This allows me to speak about an organization I am passionate about and shows my involvement in the community. These experiences are of great importance for GVSU students to take advantage of to build their resume.
Networking
I have learned that the one common theme in the public relations world is networking. PRSSA has taught me the importance of building a network. The variety of speakers, agency tours, and networking with other members have all benefited me in some unique way. I remember my first meeting in sophomore year; two former PRSSA members spoke about their jobs and how they landed them. Together, they really opened my eyes to the importance of belonging to an organization like PRSSA. PRSSA is a prime example of a professional development research offered by GVSU that is imperative for students to grasp. I’ve been involved with the study abroad center, Intramural sports, and a public relations mentorship program -- and that is a short list. There are endless opportunities for students to get involved, expand their thinking, and meet new people, all of which will help shape you into a more well-rounded individual.
Lifetime Laker
We always say a laker for a lifetime – but do people believe it is true with such a vast student body? I can confidently say yes, after working alongside like-minded individuals in my classes, joining PRSSA, and connecting with professors, that Laker for a Lifetime is a true reflection of the GVSU community. I know firsthand that trying new things and getting involved early on will positively impact your life. After all, Paris Geller said it best: “I want to live my life so that I’ll be able to read an in-depth biography about myself in later years and not puke.”
Aubrey is a senior at Grand Valley State University Studying Advertising and Public relations with a minor in studio art. This is her last year in PRSSA, and she is in her second year on the Outreach Committee. After graduation, she hopes to work at an advertising firm in Chicago.