What I Know Now

I’ve learned a lot this year. Within the classroom, with class projects. Outside the classroom, with extracurricular activities like GrandPR our student-run PR firm on campus, PR Hangover, our student-run Podcast, and of course, the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). Additionally, I have learned a lot through the relationships I have made, and the mistakes I have made. At the beginning of this year, I wrote a blog, What I Wish I Knew Sooner, and while this year comes to a close, I would like to take a second and reflect on what I know now.

Relationships are Everything

There are many ways you can interpret this statement. Professional relationships, personal relationships, I can never stress enough the importance of relationships. It is something crucial I’ve learned from being Grand Valley’s Public Relations Student Society of America (GVPRSSA) Podcast Director, and simply growing up.

Being young, there is fear that if you have not talked to someone in a long time, the time has passed, and the bridge is burned. However, this is simply untrue. Reaching out to your graduated friend, or an old professor, is an incredible way to open doors. You will run into these people at some point or another, so make that experience a good one. 

Even relating to this now, our community in PRSSA is such a great place to start. Relationships are waiting to be formed. You won’t regret giving people a chance.

Never Shut Down an Opportunity

While this is more personal to my experience in PRSSA, I will never regret getting involved on our executive board.  I will advocate for this chapter for my entire life because I have been given so many opportunities, like going to the Midwestern conference in Chicago and hearing stories from other chapters of PRSSA.

By having a yes attitude, or the mindset that I should do everything that crosses my path, I have been able to grow as a person. Starting with taking the position of Podcast Director, I have been able to conduct interviews with professionals and I have been given the chance to break out of my comfort zone, Whereas before, I certainly did not have interviewing skills or any real professional experience.

Doing those opportunities that pop out at you, like working our booth at Campus Life Night, where I got to meet a lot of our new members. The various bonding events are a great step to getting to know the wonderful people of our chapter. Also, the opportunity to write blogs,  I have used and will continue to use in the future for resume boosters. Relationships get you into the door, and showing enthusiasm brings opportunities.

Communication!

As a communication major, you’d think this would be a given. However, it is not. Everyone that you are going to encounter, will likely have a different way of communicating. One day, you can be surrounded by very loud, energetic people, and then face someone who is on the softer side, and may communicate oppositely. The key is navigating both sides. Some days, I have to match those loud personalities and express what needs to be said. On other days, it is important to listen and try and accommodate others with different communication styles as yourself.

A 10-minute conversation can completely change how someone may feel about you and vice versa. Practicing these communication skills can ensure that you are conveying the best form of message that you possibly can. Good communication can lead to improving your relationships, improving efficiency, and improving the quality of work. Open communication can make a significant difference. Also, who has time for bottling up problems anymore? That is OUT in 2024.

In Conclusion,

I make mistakes, all the time, and that’s alright. I am learning, and there is no better time to make mistakes than right now, in our college years. While I can’t go back in time and correct these mistakes, now I know better. To sum things up, keep your relationships strong, keep an open mind, and communicate effectively. Be proud of the flourishing professional you are becoming. As I have said before, Hindsight is 20/20.

Dominic is a junior majoring in Advertising and Public Relations with an emphasis in Advertising and a minor in Digital Studies. He is the current Podcast Director of PR Hangover for the 2023-2024 school year and an Account Associate in Design for GrandPR. After college, he hopes to travel the world and explore nature, while working remotely. Dominic enjoys content creation, in all forms, and outside of being creative, enjoys writing, photography, and video games.