PR

The Public Relations (PR) journey is new. When a student enters a space where everyone is far more familiar with PR, the question is often asked, “What area of PR would you like to go into?” My gut reaction is that I’m mourning the loss of objective journalism. In a previous post, I mentioned not enjoying writing for broadcast, so I switched my major to PR. That’s a tiny fraction of why I pivoted from journalism to PR. Journalism is rapidly losing its moral values or ethics.
Additionally, there’s a degree of writing in PR, so I’ll be perfectly fine. However, I wanted to be Sydney Shaw from the movie Brown Sugar; she was a journalist. Now, I am in the process of choosing which area of PR I would like to go into. I’m considering Lifestyle because I enjoy everything, beauty and fashion. It would be interesting to learn the psychological aspect of Lifestyle PR, i.e., what makes people interested in particular products or brands or what type would purchase more of these products.
Product placement is another interesting aspect that I want to learn about. Lifestyle is the way to go because I would much rather know how and where to place shoes and clothes in media and advertising than other products or brands I could be learning to brand. Lifestyle has a wide range of sub-PR categories. A few significant subcategories are health, fitness, food, beverage, and home. I find all those intriguing. There was a time when I heavily invested in creating a rigid, logical career that focused on money, longevity, and being perfect. That is no longer the case. I want to do something I enjoy and be in a welcoming place. Finding the correct career and company begins with having confidence in personal beliefs and professional desires. I’m interested in working to learn more about Lifestyle PR so that it might be a good fit.

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.

The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a breath of fresh air for all the same reasons the Navy was refreshing. Give me something I’m good at or can figure out; coffee, food, and joy fills my heart. The notion of being okay with the simplest things seems whimsical and unrealistic. However, having a concrete purpose is fulfilling and provides wholeness. Clarity rids confusion and allows what’s important to surface.
School and work are refreshing places because their purpose is obvious. Life’s expectations can be different from situation to situation, as can career expectations or intended outcomes. The slight difference is that in career and education, there are plans, ways to complete the plans, and an outcome. This cycle repeats itself with occasional changes, but life is unpredictable, looks different for every person and can be complicated.
My college career began with trepidation because I wasn’t sure I wanted to attend college. Secondly, I hadn’t decided what my purpose in life was. In 2015, I moved to Oklahoma City and was still in the Navy on active duty. There are a few prerequisites for attending college while on active duty. Sailors must complete all the training applicable to their respective positions and obtain an Enlisted Aviation or Warfare Specialist certification. I finished all that and began my college career at Rose State College. I got my Associate’s degree in Political Science, focusing on Paralegal Studies. Most people would agree that the culmination of discipline, study skills, determination, and consistency get individuals through college and propel career opportunities. While I primarily agree, an excellent playlist is the thing that really gets people through college. Waterboy by Don Shirley got me through my Associate’s degree. The Tidal music app has a feature where listeners can select a single song by an artist, and after that song, the artist’s greatest hits begin to play. I did this every day or every other day, and somehow, all my work would end up complete. Life is about the simple things.

In 2021, I started my Bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. Initially, when I got to OU, I felt out of place. This feeling lasted a while, and adjusting to the course workload and other responsibilities was difficult. My family and the Navy have a rugged use of perseverance. It’s rugged because an individual could be in depths of despair, and both would say to continue to press forward, but life is about giving everything because we aren’t here forever, and we may as well have a good time! My favorite part of attending college at 30 is my appreciation for being here. I am confident that had I attended college at 18, I would not have had a heart filled with gratitude for the opportunity to attend school!