An old dream had to die. I started writing in elementary school. The first thing I wrote was a poem published in the school newspaper. My great aunt and father made my writing monumental. They posted it in the house and acted like I wrote a bestseller at seven. I began doing the morning news in high school and became hooked again. This time, my mom and peers told me how journalism came naturally. The dream of becoming a journalist came with internal motivation as well. One of the most beautiful things a person can experience is sitting down and learning to write. I’ve yet to master writing, but it doesn’t change how invigorating the act can be.
In the fall semester of 2023, I was sitting in a broadcast journalism class, writing a script, realizing how much I disdained writing for broadcast. My professor said something about publics and catering to different publics. She mentioned how an individual can work for a company and manage their public presence, help advertise, and aid in crisis management. It sounded interesting. I wanted to help brands, or smaller businesses have a better business structure.
I was surprised that the desire to do this had a name. My friends are legitimate small business owners who consistently call me seeking solutions to business concerns. Sometimes, I think they feed me and have me visit for this reason, but the food is good, so I go. Additionally, my family and friends come to me to solve problems. Again, I didn’t know companies have people who get paid to do this.
I react to very few situations, and I’m seldom afraid to make a decision. Honestly, what’s most frustrating is when I do not have the authority to decide. Being a Public Relations specialist lends the opportunity to create solutions to everyday problems. I do this naturally; also, working hard does not intimidate me. Valuing hard and intelligent work is essential because people tend to have solutions to problems verbally but are unwilling to implement solutions for extended periods because doing so can be difficult. It also means being able to research and evaluate different markets for specific publics to figure out the best way to present a company to the public. That is captivating because a PR team gets to think of ways to advocate for a company to increase or maintain a company’s bottom line ultimately. That skill set will never make for a poor woman or man.
There are numerous possibilities at the University of Oklahoma, including the OU PRSSA, where students can find other students majoring in PR, and Lindsey+Asp, an actual PR firm dedicated to allowing students to begin a career in PR. I’m in a good place to create and implement a new dream.
