December 17, 2007
The Final Final
So, today I took my final final of college. As I sat there, test finished, totally not caring if any of the answers were right, I couldn’t believe I was done. I knew I wasn’t going to add anything else to my answers, but I spent a few extra minutes sitting and waiting for the “wow” moment when I felt totally different. Strange, but it just felt the same as any other final exam.
I expected when I passed in my test, that I would maybe punch my fist in the air and make some little squeal sound as I left the room. Instead, I just put the exam on Don Wright‘s desk, wished him a happy holiday, and walked out. I was happy and proud, but I didn’t feel as if I had just had a life-changing experience. I mean, there was no beautiful music playing and there weren’t any people applauding as I walked out of the building and headed home. Weird, right?
I guess it just takes a while for big things to hit you sometimes.
November 18, 2007
Amanda’s Story: How Did I End Up Here?
I could go on for days, but here’s my abbreviated story:
I was one of those incoming freshman at Boston University who decided to be an English major. (Feel free to make a face at your computer screen and/or laugh.) I knew I liked writing, and there had been a few books here and there that I enjoyed, so obviously English was the perfect major for me. Or so I thought, until I remembered that a big part of going to college is to get a job when you leave. Alarming. As soon as I could, I switched over to the College of Communication.
I joined COM during the fall of my sophomore year. I knew I didn’t want to be a journalist and I certainly had no interest in film or television, so I was left with a advertising or public relations. I didn’t REALLY know what PR was, so I figured advertising was a good choice.
That spring, I took a class called Writing for Mass Communication with Michael Dowding. Life changing. I learned so much about public relations and about my own strengths as a communicator, and I also gained one of the best friends I’ve ever had in my life. Michael wisely took me aside one day and told me that I HAD to change my major to public relations. I was made for it- it would be ridiculous of me not to go into this field. I figured, “What do I have to lose?” so I switched. Why not, right?
During my junior year, I worked as a public relations and publicity intern for the Brain Tumor Society in Watertown, which was a moving experience. My supervisors Dawn Grenier and Josselyn Salter were amazing, and I got the first taste of truly contributing to a real-life cause in communications. I decided I really liked this PR stuff, and worked at Cone, Inc. over the summer in the Brand Marketing Group on some exciting accounts. At Cone I met a bunch of smart, savvy professionals like Amelia Ott, Jen Newberg and Amy Russ, who helped me to develop my PR skills and confirm for me that I had made the right career choice for myself.
I’ve always wanted to do something with my life that would get people talking, change the way people think, give people something to think about… For me, public relations and social media combine everything I love to do–I thrive on inspiring conversation and influencing public opinion. PR 2.0 is absolutely an exciting, creative and gratifying field, and I’m proud to be a new kid on this block.
So, to echo what Maria said, that is me. A girl inspired by people who wants to inspire publics. As my good friend Chris Brogan put it at Jeff Pulver‘s recent real-time social networking event in Boston, I guess I kind of am “the future.”
November 12, 2007
How I found PR and other stories – Maria
For our first post, Amanda and I decided to write about how/why we decided to study PR at BU and where we hope our new found knowledge will lead us. So, this is my story.
I stumbled upon PR while doing volunteer work in southern India the winter between sophomore and junior year (I took two years off from college to travel). At that time, I only had a vague, Hollywood induced idea of what PR entailed. I’m sure I had heard the term before, but probably couldn’t have define it. While staying in Auroville, I became involved in the planning and running of a UNESCO sponsored conference — Youth for Human Unity. It was love at first sight. I began asking people, “what is this called and how can I do it for the rest of my life?” The resounding response was Public Relations. That is when I began looking for a program to transfer to (I attended Vassar College for my first two years). I found BU, applied, was accepted, and am now finishing my third semester in the public relations program (I graduate in May).
For as long as I can remember I have known that my purpose in life is to make a difference in the global community. Until recently I wasn’t sure how I was going to accomplish this as it seemed to me that a lot of PR had to do with consumer goods. I thought I would have to work for a non-profit, or find an agency that takes on non-profit clients. For reasons that I can’t explain, this didn’t seem like it would be enough for me. Then I discovered new media. Again, it was love at first sight.
My intentions for after graduation is to find a position in which I will be furthering social causes via my PR and new media skills. Hopefully, I will find this position before graduation *hint hint* At this time, agency work looks very appealing as I love fast-paced environments and multi-tasking.
So, that is me. Tales of my journey in pursuit of saving the world (and finding a job) to follow.
November 8, 2007
PR Students, Unite.
This blog is the collaboration of Amanda Gravel and Maria Thurrell, both seniors in the public relations program at Boston University.
We are using On the PRowl as a place to discuss the excitement and challenges of making the transition from student and intern to practitioner and pro in this business. Watch, listen, join, discuss… as our stories unfold.
On the PRowl 