THAT is the question!

I will be a junior in college this Fall. It’s actually quite hard for me to admit and I even tear up a bit when I think about it (don’t go spreading that around)! I guess this is the time to REALLY crack down and think about what I want to do once I graduate. But with so many options and avenues that I can take, I’m not exactly sure which road to choose! I have always been the kind of person with a solid plan; a person who anyone can count on to choose a road and take it. But how can I even do this when I don’t know exactly which way to go?

Sure, I could get a job and start my professional life at the young age of 22. Or maybe I could travel the world and see the most popular destinations, adding some great albums to my Facebook page. But I recently thought of an idea that never would have crossed me mind…ever. Going to grad school.

Most people say that communications majors don’t really need to go on to higher learning since the field is mostly about experience rather than book smarts. Yet, I recently went to a graduate info session at NYU for a Masters of Science in Public Relations and Corporate Organization that completely changed my mind on this entire grad school debacle. 

At the session, I learned about the how much more experience students can obtain in their field of study; how being in a class with distinguished faculty is a networking opportunity in and of itself; how class schedules are so conveniently designed that students are not held hostage in a classroom all day; how grad school can actually be an option for me.

I truly enjoyed the info session and the faculty who delivered it. It opened my eyes to a new road that I would have never dreamed of taking. Of course, I will have to do more research on the right school for me, but I think that when I find a program that fits me, it will be a program worth investing in. 

I think everyone should investigate this higher learning issue and I am more and more excited each day to research it further and expand my horizons. 

I just hope that they have some sort of meal plan in grad school….because although grad school may be a new option, learning how to cook is not :)

Last semester, I worked with a freelance publicist in LA to help promote the company Tundra Gear to the football fans at Penn State. Tundra Gear, founded by Aras, the winner of “Survivor: Exile Island” is a winter hat company which provides hats for “real sports fans.” I enjoyed my time working with this publicist and kept in touch with her over many months.

After keeping in touch with her, she emailed me last week to help her with another project! I was so enthused that she wanted to use my services again and have me help her with real world projects! 

I am helping to build press lists of magazines, television news stations, newspapers and much more to help build publicity for a clothing franchise with over 40 stores in 21 states! A lot, I know, but this is such great exposure to PR in a smaller environment as opposed to a firm or a corporation. 

After press lists are built, we plan on pitching the stores to all of the media outlets as well as identifying other partners in each store market to develop co-events with.

I am excited that I am having so much exposure to the industry at such a young age and, especially since this is freelance work, this is giving me great preparation to some of the work I will be doing when I begin my own PR firm!

At my internship at MTV, I had the amazing opportunity to showcase my writing skills to all of the employees within Viacom Networks.

I was assigned the task of writing the July “Best in Show” article. It is basically like an employee of the month with certain categories such as “best personality” and “biggest humanitarian.” For the month of July, I wrote about Drew Kristofik, Managing Editor at Parents Connect within Nickelodeon, and the qualities that make her the “best mentor.”

I was a bit nervous at first I must admit, however, I rose to the challenge. I had the chance to interview Drew as well as read a huge list of nomination letters from her staff and co-workers. It was quite a task to sum up all of her amazing qualities into a few paragraphs, but the profile turned out really well. 

Although I had a few fears, I was confident in my personality profile writing skills since I had been trained quite well by my news writing and reporting teacher, Bianca Barr, during my second semester. I simply used everything she taught me and compiled it into a short description.

I am so excited that my work is showcased!

I plan on uploading the document soon! Keep checking back!

I can’t believe I actually get to be a part of this! Well…not a huge part…but a part nonetheless!

Make Up For Ever, the cosmetics company where I am interning this summer, is sponsoring shows in Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim. It has been pretty busy in the office trying to get ready for such a huge event!

I have been assigned to put together the event kits for the make up artists who will be designing looks for each show. Included in the kits are the basic necessities for a made up face as well as a few extra “glam” products.

I have been learning so much so far and I am excited to share more information as I go along!

Hopefully they will need an extra hand in Miami! Lets keep our fingers crossed!

Take a look here at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Swim!!! 

A good friend of mine named LeeAnet Noble started her own youth group where she works with youth from New York City to put together a dancing and singing show. I’m so happy that she invited me to the group’s final performance last week at the historic Cotton Club in Harlem, New York.

The performance focused on showcasing the kid’s singing, dancing, acting and instrumental talents. What a show it was! It was great to see youth partaking in positive activities and loving every minute of it! Their passion for their art was obvious and the support of their families in the audience was monumental!

I was so proud of LeeAnet for taking a huge step in breaking ground into helping the lives of youth in her community. She is one of very few people who dedicates her life to introducing youth to positive activities while also continuing the spread of art as a form of entertainment. I tip my hat many times to LeeAnet as well as the dancers and I will continue to write about her and support her work because it is something that I truly believe in.