a blog is individual empowerment

Right now is the best time to enter the world of PR. Today’s communities and businesses rely on public relations to form effective communication strategies. With the expansion of media outlets, there are greater opportunities for public relations messages in today’s market. From blogging to social networking, these online trends are invaluable for the public relations world.

Public relations is no longer characterized by the large PR firms with traditional press releases. With the increased popularity of blogging, individuals are empowered with the opportunity to create their own form of public relations. Individual publishing is not a threat to new public relations specialists like me, but a great opportunity. These communities of bloggers can bring increased PR for brands, communities, and companies alike.

As a personal social media user, I am familiar with the opportunities PR has with online social media networking. The need to share something, whether it’s a blog, a video, a picture, or a purchase, drives consumers and empowers them with technology. Now that I have created and maintained by own blog, I can consider my blogging history an asset to my public relations skills. Social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace can also be PR tools for a brand image. My knowledge of current social media and social networking trends is can also assist my in the PR profession. I know that these new PR outlets are an opportunity for me as a new public relations specialist.

 

strong and powerful women actresses

playing a character on stage is a feeling like none other. finding the character you play is a combination of using the text, putting yourself in that situation, and employing a variety of tactics to achieve your character's objectives. i have had a few opportunities to portray different characters on stage, in musicals, straight plays, and classical plays. 

sometimes I draw inspiration for my characters from the famous actresses who have also played these characters. 

Rita Moreno

Anita, West Side Story

Rita Moreno played the role of Anita in Robert Wise's film adaptation

 of Leonard Bernstein's and Stephen Sondheim's Broadway musical, West Side Story. In one of her most famous roles, Moreno earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. I also played Anita in West Side Story in 2005 and I drew inspiration from Moreno's passion, flair, energy, and spunk in the movie. 

Dolly Parton

Truvy, Steel Magnolias

Dolly Parton is one of the most successful American country music artists of all time. In addition to these successes, Parton also played the part of Truvy Jones in the Tri-Star Pictures production of Steel Magnolias, a stage play written by Robert Harling. I also played the part of Truvy at Drury University in 2006. The action of the play centers around Truvy's southern beauty parlor and the women who regularly gather there. The film, which I have always enjoyed, and Parton's portrayal of Truvy were an inspiration to me when developing my character. 

Chita Rivera

Nickie, Sweet Charity

Anita, West Side Story

Chita Rivera played Nickie Pignatelli in the 1969 film version of Sweet Charity and also played Anita in the Broadway production of West Side Story. In Sweet Charity, Nickie is one of Charity's closest friends and dancer at the Fandango Ballroom. Rivera's dynamic dance skills and spunky personality brought so much to the screen version of Nicki and she proved to be a huge inspiration for the development of my character.

Nicki and Helene, Charity's best friends

Helena Bonham Carter

Olivia, Twelfth Night

Helena Bonham Carter played Olivia in the film version of Twelfth Night: Or What You Will in 1996, directed by Trevor Nunn. This version is set in the early 19th century, much like the Drury University Theatre adaptation. I play the part of Olivia and I drew much of my inspiration from her interpretation of Shakespeare's text. Drury's production of Twelfth Night runs November 13th - 15th and 20th - 22nd at 8:00pm in Wilhoit Theatre on Drury University's campus. Ticket reservations can be made by calling the Drury Theatre Box Office at (417) 873-7255.

Check out the Springfield News Leader's review of our performance!

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008811150322

Olivia and Cesario

the magic of mentoring

last week I attended a luncheon sponsored by the Association for Women in Communication (AWC). I am a member of DC Networks on Drury University's campus, which is a student chapter of the AWC. the luncheon was focused on mentoring and the benefits one can receive from being a mentor or having a mentor. having a mentor can help you raise your self-esteem and confidence, network with other professionals in your field, and connect you with information and resources that help you learn and grow. 

the word "mentor" comes from Homer's epic poem The Odyssey. Mentor in this story is the teacher and overseer of Odysseuss' son. 

i started thinking about my own life and the mentors and role models I have had and hopefully the mentor I have been to others. here are a few of the most influential mentors in my life:

Mrs. Marilyn Killian

for four or five years of my life, I was part of the Wichita Children's Community Choir. WCCC was such a great experience for me because I developed my passion for music and choral singing during these years as a child. I auditioned for WCCC in 4th grade and I remember how scary Mrs. Killian appeared, even though she was only around five feet tall. This gray-haired, energetic, and spunky woman was the director of WCCC and truly had a way with directing children's choir. I learned discipline, choral singing basics, and more from being a part of this organization. I also had the opportunity to sing in various all-state children's choirs and the SWACDA Children's Choir. It's because of Mrs. Killian that I am still singing today.

Mrs. Mary Patrick

I was a part of the yearbook staff from my 7th grade year until my senior year of high school. My favorite yearbook memories were in middle school. Mrs. Patrick was the yearbook staff advisor in my 7th and 8th grade years. Mrs. Patrick was such a great advisor and made sure that our yearbook was the best; our book was constantly winning awards because of her great mentoring abilities. I also got the opportunity to travel and speak at a conference as the editor of the yearbook. Without the influence of Mrs. Patrick, I would have never been inclined to consider advertising as a major. 

Hank and Gina Johnson

I worked at the Humane Society of Tulsa for four or five years in high school and college. At HST, I worked in a variety of positions, from Weekend Manager to Adoption Coordinator to eventually Executive Director. Hank and Gina Johnson were the President and Vice President of the HST Board of Directors and the owners of the Humane Society. Their kindness and trust in me to efficiently run the center on weekends and later, during the week, gave me utmost confidence in my professional abilities. They expected a lot from me and other employees and gave me a lot of responsibility. Because of the opportunities I had while working at the Humane Society, I can say I have lots of experience working and managing a nonprofit organization. Moreover, Hank and Gina inspired me to be passionate about animal welfare. 

Hank and Gina with Me and Cody at our Goodbye Party

Robert Westenberg

At Drury, I am involved in the Theatre Department. For the past four years, I have worked closely with Robert Westenberg, a former Broadway veteran who was nominated for a To

ny for his role as the Wolf and the Prince in Into the Woods. Mr. Westenberg has truly refined and crafted both my acting and musical theatre skills. I have worked with him in Drury's Broadway Cabaret, a performing musical group, and in several plays, including my role as Truvy in Steel Magnolias and my current role of Olivia in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. He has an amazing talents of working with students and helping them become the best actor that they can be. I know the knowledge and experience I've gained from working with Mr. Westenberg will help me in future theatre auditions. 

Robert Westenberg with the cast of Steel Magnolias (Bonni, Kat, Sarah, Mary, and Mallorie)

COMMENTS: Who is your mentor?

tis the season of college visits...

now that i've made my decision to go to graduate school, how do i go about picking the school i want to go to?

i have to think about*

• the graduate program itself
  
• the university's credentials and reputation
  
• cost
  
• scholarships
  
• tuition wavers
  
• graduate assistantships
  
• internship opportunities
  
• housing
  
• location
  
• application requirements
  

*this list is far from comprehensive...

i've started this research over a year ago by researching graduate programs, requesting information, and communicating to schools via email.

however, this past weekend i made an even bigger step in my search for graduate schools: i visited DePaul University in Chicago.

DePauls's MA in public relations and advertising has been my favorite program that i've researched. it involves both public relations and advertising in a synergistic way that i believe the two disciplines should be. the program blends both strategy and application of PR and advertising in a way that allows its students to succeed in the professional world and in the academic world. plus, the campus is in the heart of Chicago, a city with lots of opportunities for advertising and public relations practitioners.

on Thursday, I met with the Admissions Director for DePaul's College of Communication. She gave me a lot of great information and answered many of my questions. I then took a tour of the Lincoln Park campus, located in a beautiful part of Chicago. next, I met with a professor of advertising at DePaul, who gave me a good idea of what life could be like for me as a PR/ad graduate student at DePaul. lastly, I sat in on her class and listened to a guest speaker talk about a career in media planning, which I found especially interesting given my internship this summer with media buying and negotiating. 

visiting DePaul and learning more about the graduate program in which I'm interested really answered a lot of my questions about my decision (see above). now that I've visited the campus, I know that I am definitely interested in applying to this program.

 click here to take a look at DePaul's Master of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising. 

i'm graduating from college... now what?

in may 2009, I'll be wearing the old cap and gown with the senior class of Drury University. but in my lifelong pursuit of education, i've made the decision that i'm not ready to abandon the university lifestyle: i'm going to graduate school.

it's a decision i always knew i wanted to make, but i had never truly confronted the issue until these past few years. i see graduate school as an investment in my future and an opportunity to differentiate myself from my peers. it's an experience that will help me become a successful leader of the advertising and public relations industry. 

there are so many factors that go into my decision to go to grad school:

i first asked myself, "do you really want to be in school for another two years?" the answer is: yes. i enjoy learning in a classroom-style environment and i can easily see myself learning and growing in a graduate program. 

how am i going to pay for it? will my parents help me out? family? loans? tuition wavers? graduate assistantships? scholarships? internships? a job? 

where do i want to go? i know i want to have the graduate school experience in a larger city, but i need to find a program that suits my needs and career objectives.

when should i go? should i take a year off before applying? i've made the decision to go to graduate school the fall semester after i graduate from Drury. 

where am i going to live? housing in larger cities is expensive. how do i pay for it? how can i find an apartment? 

where can i work? most programs offer classes in the late afternoons and early evenings. are there paid internship opportunities available? a part time job? 

am i ready to truly be on my own? this is a question that all graduates must be asking themselves. to many people, going out into the "real world" can be a scary thought, but i see it as an opportunity to keep learning, growing, and experiencing new things. 

am i ready to abandon my love of theatre and music? NO. no matter where i am, i want to be involved extracurricularly or professionally in theatre, music, or musical theatre. many of the graduate programs offer groups and activities to non-major graduate students. if not, the cities in which i am looking offer rich theatre and music scenes. 

i've been doing a lot of research on graduate programs all across the US, and even some in Europe! i am truly excited about the prospect of graduate school, but i'm prepared to do a lot of work to apply for admission. most graduate programs are highly selective and i know i need to work hard on my applications, personal statements, essays, and the dreaded GRE. i also need to contact supervisors, professors, advisors and mentors for recommendation letters. it's a lot of time and work to apply for graduate school, but it's a process for which I'm ready.

Look for more graduate school-related posts in the future. 

these are a few of my favorite things...

to most people, obtaining an education means going to school. 

and it's true: if you apply yourself and retain the information given, you can learn a lot from schooling.

why do we go to school? each fall, millions of young people go off to school at private and public institutions. going to school can be time-consuming, costly and expensive. school is more than just learning out of a textbook: our education is filled with rich experiences, both good and bad, that have shaped who we have become. it's a place where young people can come together in common ground, a place where mentors and advisors can help guide, a place where we develop a sense of who we are, a place where we gain knowledge and the tactics to use that knowledge in a real-world situation. 

it's a place where we prepare for our future. 

here are a few of my favorite classes from my schooling. (it includes elementary schools, middle school, high school, and college)

SPANISH II and III (Tulsa Community College, Summer 2004) - Learning another language is an especially interesting way to learn. It opens your mind to a new culture, which in turn can expand your schemas and view of the world in an enlightening way. I took these classes at TCC over the summer in a fast track course, which means each course was only two weeks long. I think these courses are a great way to submerse yourself in the language and learn Spanish rapidly. 

AP WORLD HISTORY (Mrs. Brannon, Union High School, 2004) - It may seem hard to learn about the entire history of the world in a year, but this class was hugely successful. I love history, especially ancient history, and although this class was difficult, I learned a lot. 

LIVING WITH JOY AT LIFE'S END (Dr. Peter Browning, Drury University, Spring 2007) This class was about dying, a subject that many people do not want to confront or talk about. However, I thought this class was the best class I've taken at Drury. One of our projects was to go to a local nursing home and simply talk to our new friend, a patient at the home. My friend, Ora, truly is a remarkable woman. She told me all about her life and I wrote down the things she told me and made a book through Shutterfly, an online scrapbooking website. The book included her life story and pictures that she had showed me. It was truly a touching moment when I gave her the book at the end of the semester. Although death may not be what most people want to talk about, this class prepares you to accept dying as a part of the human life. 

AD TEAM (Ron Schie, Drury University, Spring 2008) This class solidified my interest in advertising as my career path. It is imminently helpful to work on a real case study in your collegiate career; it helped me understand what is expected of an advertising professional and what the industry can really be like.

DOES GOD EXIST? (Dr. Peter Browning, Drury University, Fall 2007) This class helped me answer the question, does God exist? It was a fair class in that we learned both sides of the argument and made the decision for ourselves. Having this academic experience to help me understand my faith was such a great tool for me. 

WHO IS JESUS? (Dr. Peter Browning, Drury University, Spring 2008) This class, along with Does God Exist, were two classes that helped me figure out what my faith is and what I believe in. Again, the class was very fair, presenting both sides of the argument to figure out who Jesus really was.

YEARBOOK (Mrs. Patrick, Maize Middle School, 1997-2000) Yearbook was the class that sparked my interest in designing, layout, photography, copy, all of the elements that would later lead me to discover my love of advertising and public relations. Although yearbook and an ad campaign may seem completely different, they are more similar than one would think. I learned at an early age how to think strategically and creatively and this prompted me to consider the advertising and PR industry.

Comments: What is one of your favorite classes from school?

go surfing.

as you and I sit on our computers, browsing the infinite catacombs of the world wide web, we tend to forget how much the internet affects our daily lives. 

the internet is truly a revolution of the 20^th century. it’s an unlimited and invaluable source of knowledge that we access so often each day.

on any given day, I could be on the internet in a variety of ways: checking my email, looking at Facebook, writing on my  blog, researching academic journals, listening to music and more. as a student, to think about not having the luxuries of internet connection in my daily life is perplexing; the immediacy of information would vanish along with my ease of communication. it’s a different way of life.

how has the internet revolutionized our lives?

you can get news and information on the spot. as a communication major, I can clearly see how the internet has revolutionized how quickly we can receive information. the internet is instantaneous… as long as you have a connection. this connection used to only be available through computers, but today, we can receive our information even more quickly than through a computer on our cell phones.

you can stay in touch. the internet facilitates communication with others, regardless of their location or proximity. email especially has transformed the way we communicate with others, whether in a business, personal or collegiate setting. a recent study by Gartner, Inc., found that 53% of corporate email users checked their mail over six times a day. social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace help individuals stay informed and in contact with the people involved in their current life and in the past.

the internet builds communities. blogs, chat rooms and more foster a sense of community, regardless of physical identity. individuals communicate with others without having ever met them. this sense of two-way communication is a technological revolution, second next to telecommunication and face-to-face communication.

you can access information from multiple locations. a vast array of information is available at your fingertips: whether you’re in Springfield, Missouri, or Hawaii (to which I’ve never been, unfortunately). up until fairly recently, you absolutely needed a computer to access the wealth of information available on the web. today, however, mobile phones are transforming the way we receive information over the web. we can get what information we want, when we want, and where we want.

you can have access to infinite amounts of information. a person could spend every second of their waking life surfing the web and never get through the never-ending pages of the world wide web. quite frankly, it’s HUGE. moreover, individuals have the right to publish unfiltered information over the web. you can be your own editor of what you choose to publish. the public relations industry has been hugely affected with the rise of blogging. PR is no longer characterized by large PR firms and traditional press releases. with the advent of blogs, individuals are empowered with the opportunity to create their own forms of public relations. however, individual publishing is not a threat to the public relations industry, but an opportunity: communities of bloggers can bring increased PR for brands, communities and companies alike.

 

here are a few of my favorite internet sites to learn from:

google.com: how general, I know, but it’s a great starting point. google is my favorite search engine. the concept of a search engine is simple, but the impact and result is truly enormous. you simply type a topic into a box and click “go.” a computer finds the most relevant pages to your topic. it’s fascinating: search engines have truly transformed internet surfing and the quest for relevant information. you can type in anything and have the information readily available. have you ever googled yourself? try it.

Wikipedia.com: Wikipedia can be a great source for information, but because it is user-generated, many scholars find some of the pages to be unreliable sources. however, the website is well-maintained: most common topic pages are well-researched with bibliographical citations. it is a great springboard for academic research or just a great way to find information on a certain topic.

youtube.com: it’s like television over the internet, but better. videos are available to users at any time, at any place. as an advertising major, if I want to find a television commercial, I can usually find it on youtube.

seeqpod.com: seeqpod is a mp3 search engine. try it: type in any song and you instantly have access to the mp3 to listen over the internet. you can create playlists of your favorite songs, regardless of whether you have the mp3 file itself.

academic search engines: JSTOR, LexisNexis, EBSCOhost, GoogleScholar and more. being able to find academic information via the internet creates makes facilitating academic information so easy.

stumbleupon: I think stumbleupon truly could revolutionize the search engine: whether than having a computer find the “most relevant” information, stumble upon has human, user-generated search results.

 

these are merely just a few of the learning opportunities you can find on the internet.

 so don’t just sit there and read this blog: go surfing.

 

learning through a summer internship

recently, i was fortunate to have to learning experience that helped me grow in many different ways. I was selected to become a Stickell Intern through the American Advertising Federation. The AAF placed me with Valassis Communications, Inc., a marketing company located in the Detroit area in Michigan. this was truly one of the greatest learning experiences I’ve had: not only did I move to a new area and meet new people, but I grew as a person and a professional. 

at Valassis, I interned dually in the Promotion Distribution Procurement and Newspaper Information Services departments. I learned a lot about the process of buying and negotiating media for clients. I worked with various newspapers across the United States and with various marketing products and services including ROP ads, FSI’s (free standing inserts), co-op coupon books, and more. I helped fax over 600 newspapers to confirm information about their circulation and contact over 1500 newspaper asking about their schedule for holiday publishing. I also implemented a scanning process for all co-op contracts to facilitate easy electronic access within my departments. I worked on several client-specific projects, including projects for many large corporate businesses. I also worked on an internship project focused how Valassis could be environmentally sustainable and many of our ideas from the project have already begun to be implemented in company operations. 

through these projects, I learned what it’s like to work in the field of advertising and marketing. there were so many acronyms used in my job, I made a list of 30 or so just so I could learn the trade terms. in addition to terms, I learned how the process of media buying and negotiating is completed, from beginning to end. I also learned about being a responsible professional. this kind of real-life professional experience supplemented what I’ve been learning in my communication courses perfectly.

outside of my internship itself, I had so many experiences and adventures that helped me grow. I lived by myself for the first time in a fully-furnished apartment about ten minutes away from Valassis. I made some lifelong friends with other interns and we had so many adventures together! we played whirlyball, a game where you are on teams of five, each in a bumper car called a whirlybug, and you drive around and shoot a whiffle ball into your opposing team’s basket. my department at Valassis attended a Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball game one day during the week. the interns also hit downtown Detroit, including the famous Greektown, where Greek food delicacies like saganaki and spanakopita abound. I also traveled to northern Michigan and explored Crystal Lake, where the water is so clear you can see logs in the bottom of the lake, Lake Michigan and the old Frankfort Lighthouse, and the giant sand dunes of Sleeping Bear Dunes. we went to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to see a concert in the University of Michigan college town. we traveled to Toledo, Ohio, for the grand opening bash of a Melting Pot fondue restaurant. we also crossed the border to Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and explored Canadian town for a weekend. we also went to a giant country music concert in Ford Field in downtown Detroit, where the Detroit Lions play and where the Super Bowl was held a few years ago. 

in Michigan, there were no reservations. we were determined to have fun and experience all sorts of different things to grow and learn about the world around us. these experiences that I had while I was interning made my summer experience so beneficial, exciting, and fun. learning does not just have to be in a classroom or at a job site: learning can be from experiences and people you meet along the way. 

 

 

internships are a learning experience that I think all college students should experience.

 

tips on finding your perfect internship:

1. start early with your research. internship deadlines vary from organization to organization, so start your search early. look at internship opportunities at companies that are leaders in your field of interest. for instance, I found a list of some of the top advertising agencies today and from that list, I went to the company websites and looked at some of their internship programs. if they didn’t have a program, I emailed them and asked them if they had any opportunities. also, be organized in your search and know when the deadlines are and what is required for each organization. I contacted over thirty organizations either with my internship application or an email asking about their internship opportunities.
   
2. have your resources available. have your resume ready and have many professionals or professors look it over to help you make improvements. if your internship requires a letter of recommendation, ask your professor or supervisor at least two weeks in advance: don’t make them rush to write a letter for you at the last second.
   
3. don’t get discouraged. a lot of companies don’t have time to respond to every email, so don’t get discouraged if you receive little response.  also, be optimistic about your search, even if you start to receive rejection letters from companies. you’re not going to get every internship, but if you work hard in your search, a great internship opportunity could come your way.
   
4. don’t be afraid to get outside of your comfort zone. I knew from the start of my internship search that I wanted to go far away for my internship. don’t be afraid to apply to internships that are far away in proximity: many internship hosts provide housing or will give you suggestions on finding a place to live. when you’re interning, don’t be afraid to travel, make friends and contacts at your job and outside of your job, ask questions and soak up information. the point of an internship is to learn about your field of interest.
   
5.  apply to lots of organizations. believe it or not, I applied to FIFTEEN different companies for my summer internship. thirteen of the fifteen organizations did not offer me an internship. it is important to apply to lots of places to have a better chance of receiving one of the positions.
   
6. be prepared for interviews. I had two interviews for two separate internships, one in advertising and one in public relations. one was a phone interview with a PR firm in New York City. phone interviews are a great way for you to show your personality to the internship selection committee; plus, you can have all sorts of references spread out in front of you to reference while your on the phone, like notes of answers to common interview questions, your resume and application, and more. I also had an on-site interview with an ad agency in Kansas City. I printed out a list of some of the most common interview questions and practiced how I would answer those questions. I also did extensive research on both of the companies that I interviewed with so that I could demonstrate a knowledge of these organizations. also, be prepared with a few questions that YOU want to ask the company about their operations or the internship itself.
   

this summer was one of the greatest ever. I had the opportunity to learn, grow and experience new things. I hope I can help other college students have a similar opportunity.

comments: I want to hear about YOUR internship experience. 

let's face the facts.

 “numerous studies support the notion that education, both in adolescence and continuing into old age, is a vital part of living a long, happy and healthy life” (Senior Smarts: How Education Helps You Live Longer)

for thousands and thousands of years, philosophers have pondered the notion of learning.

lifelong learning is simply the role of education as a continuing aspect of everyday life. In 1919, the Adult Education Committee of the British Ministry of Reconstruction concluded that:

“… adult education is a permanent national necessity, an inseparable aspect of citizenship, and therefore should be both universal and lifelong.”

many people who graduate from high school and college are simply learning to gain the basic skills that will help them land the jobs they seek. but for me, education is something more than that. learning doesn’t simply imply reading a textbook or listening to a lecture from a professor; what we learn comes from many different sources that make our education so vital.

learning opportunities are found everywhere: in college institutions, on the internet, through mentors and teachers, in books and movies, in the media, in art and theatre, from friends and family, professional organizations, travel, life experiences and more.

an expansion of knowledge not only helps me better prepare for a professional career, but it also helps me gain wisdom and good judgment, be a leader, help others, grow spiritually and philosophically, and helps me make a positive impact on society and our world in the 21^st century.

the moral of this blog?

never stop learning.

as soon as you close your mind to the possibility of another reality, you are closing yourself off to other greater opportunities that lie waiting for you. no matter what you spend your time doing in life, you should never stop asking questions; never stop learning. it is only by increasing your understanding of the world around you that you will be able to have a significant impact. if you never stop learning, you will never stop seeing the possibilities. – bill gates