State of Public Relations Address

My Fellow Public Relations Professionals:

Over a year ago today, I began my personal job search. Despite knowing the economy wasn’t in the best state, I thought I would not become an unemployment statistic; I figured my ambition and can-do attitude, as well as my extensive resume for a recent college graduate, would be enough to obtain a job. However, over the past 12 months, I have distributed close to 350 resumes and cover letters as well as conducted a freelance identity campaign and event. Unfortunately, I have not succeeded in securing a job or moving out of my parents’ house.

As President Barack Obama recently mentioned in his State of the Union Address, one in ten Americans still cannot find work. With Ohio having the 39^th worst economy - and unfortunately, this is the state I reside in - I am not surprised that I cannot find a job in any industry, especially PR. To accompany my hundreds of applications, I have also turned to the food industry and have considered employment at Walmart if all else fails.

However, after questioning my future and career path, I can firmly state that public relations is where I belong. My spirit may have wavered slightly during these past nine months, but I have never given up, just like other Americans during this tough economic time.

I have faith in the economy despite the rising unemployment rates. My hope is rooted in groups like Help A PR Pro Out, PR Open Mic, and the Public Relations Society of America (just to name a few), none of which have given up on the public relations profession. They are striving to help employ individuals as well as restore something all of us have lost a little bit of – hope.

Through these organizations, as well as the guidance and support from PR professionals, I will overcome the obstacles that have plagued our industry. I know I have endured a very difficult year, just like many other people, and recovery is in the near future.

Thank you. God Bless You. And God Bless the United States of Public Relations.

To get a glimpse of my resume, please check out "My Resume" post

Here I go again...

I originally started this blog in summer 2008 with the intentions of sharing my weight loss progress with the world. I wanted to inspire people and provide some type of support if not entertainment. Unfortunately, like most things in life, the best intentions never really work out. My blog turned into one focusing on social media, politics, education and public relations in general.

Don’t get me wrong – I still love these subjects. However, since graduating in May 2009, my life has drastically changed – turned upside down if you will. Now, instead of living in large city with a PR job I love, I am two months away from being 23, single and living at home with my parents questioning my life.

For these reasons – and mostly trying to find myself – I decided to revive my blog and share my experiences on growing up and moving on in life. I hope my experiences will help upcoming or recent grads know that it is okay if they don’t know what they’re doing with life – just that life needs to be enjoyable. And if nothing else, we can share some laughs, maybe some tears and hopefully lots of entertainment (at my expense, naturally).

A Flaw in the System?

When in college, you assume you’ll be able to find a job upon graduation. And why shouldn’t you? You’ve been active over the past four years, you’re knowledgeable about your major and you have a degree… so why haven’t you been hired?

As most current graduates realize, landing a job is not easy. I realize we are in a recession; however, it’s not necessarily a lack of jobs, but the flaw in the job search process. I have thankfully realized this by working with Janice Worthington, who has shown me that universities fail in preparing students for the job hunt. Throughout college, you learn about your major and professional development. Unfortunately, not enough focus is put on how to obtain your first job.

My experience with the Office of Career Services at my alma mater was not the best. I feel they were not beneficial for any student, unless they are actively pursuing an accounting, engineering or pharmacy degree (which, ironically, these are the majors that don’t need their services). And after talking with several recent graduates with similar aforementioned degrees, Career Services didn’t even help them. For this reason, I feel universities and other higher education institutes need to reevaluate where they are allocating their money and time.

I propose constructing a new system that will work for students. Universities should have a mandatory senior seminar course in which graduating students learn how to successfully conduct a job search. At my alma mater, we have a freshman orientation class to help adjust new students to college life, so why not have a senior course? I also feel that having a stable and well connected Office of Career Services for students, despite their major, will lead to successful alumni.

I believe this makes sense – undergraduates have spent the last four (or more) years learning about their major. For this reason, students should learn how to effectively search for jobs so they can apply their knowledge and won’t be working at a job they hate. If you feel the same way – whether you’re a parent, educator, recently employed, actively seeking a career or an undergraduate student – talk to your university. By working together, we can make a change.

A Wake Up Call?

First and foremost, I haven't blogged in quite awhile and I apologize for that. I feel slightly lame and disappointed in myself. With that aside, I must write a personal post.

Yesterday was the whipped cream and cherry topping to a horrible week sundae. Wednesday night I had two flat tires - both on the same side. I am lucky enough to have a caring brother and a very helpful guy friend. They changed my tires in the below zero weather and sent me on my way. I dropped my car off the next day, only to find out that I needed all new tires and won't have my car back until Monday. Then our pipes froze and the weather got to 25 below zero.

Then Friday happened. I was feeling wonderful about life - we have a long weekend and I just talked to someone for awhile. I was taking my car over to Lima to get new tires put on since I am very bullheaded and wanted my car back. I was heading home after spending an hour and a half in Sam's Club when I started having thoughts about car accidents, which I often think about when road conditions are bad. I look toward my phone, which was sitting on my passenger seat, and kept thinking about life in general. I was listening to the radio and enjoying the song that was on - I can't even think of what it was now. Then a car headed toward me, so I moved to give more room on the narrow, icy road.

Well, the snow was deeper than what I thought, so I pulled my car back onto the road, only hitting a patch of ice. This sent me off the road, heading toward the utility poles. This was weird - moving toward the wooden poles seemed to go so fast and slow all at the same time. I had thoughts racing through my mind all while praying I wouldn't hit another car. My car came closer to each pole, snow flying, me tapping the breaks.

Next thing I know, I hit my head three times and woke up a few seconds later to find a man coming out of his house. I reached for my phone, which was on the floor, and called Bryan, my go-to guy - a friend who has proved he is as chivalrous as he preaches. I don't remember the conversation with him or my mom. I actually don't remember a lot besides my friends coming to my rescue and going from hysterically crying to laughing in a split second. Bryan and the boys were in awe that the air bags didn't deploy, and then spent time trying to set them off. I also can't get the image of the front end of my totaled car with half of the wooden pole under my car, completely uprooted, and the other half hanging and slightly leaning on my car. 

I ended up going to the hospital a few hours later, giving in to people bugging me. I have a concussion and am completely sore. However, I will survive and I am okay. I realized, after having horrible and crazy dreams, that this will take some time for me to recover. I am just lucky that the accident wasn't worse - I could have hurt someone else, been seriously injured or been electrocuted. 

Maybe I will go play the lottery like Bryan said. Or maybe, just maybe, this is a wake up call for me to relax and enjoy life.

What is going on Obama?

Change. That was the basis of Barack Obama's award-winning presidential election which resulted in him being elected. However, I feel like we're starting to see the same old song and dance.

Even though Obama has been President-elect for only one month, he is already starting to dodge questions. As we all are aware, the hot topic in politics lately he has been about Illinois Governor Blagojevich trying to sell Obama's Senate seat and the involvement of Obama's own team members. In a recent interview with John McCormick, as seen here in Campbell Brown's "Cutting Through the Bull,"  Obama is asked about his Senate seat. And what is the response McCormick receives? He is interrupted and is given an almost rude answer from Obama.

Granted, I am sure our President-elect is getting annoyed by this topic. However, he cannot dodge the questions he doesn't want to answer.

After watching Brown's show, I am disheartened. I feel betrayed to a certain extent. I have been supporting someone I thought stood for change and being open with the nation - not secretive and rude to reporters. I want the President-elect back that we saw over the past few months; the one who wanted change and promised to bring that to the White House.

Who knows, maybe this is the Obama that has always been there but we were blinded by the glitz and glamor. I guess time is going to reveal our President-elect's true character and hopefully we will once again see the open, change-seeking man we elected.

Tweeting the Terror

Twitter made history today. Read this moving article about how social media had an impact in Mumbai in the article "Tweeting the terror: How social media reacted to Mumbai."

My Fourth Thanksgiving in Two Weeks...

Thanksgiving is hands down my favorite holiday. Many people are in disbelief when I say this since Christmas is often viewed as the best day of the year. I will admit, I love that season but I don't like what Christmas has become - too commercialized and everyone worrying about getting people the perfect gifts. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, is all about being with your family - friends/relatives/neighbors - and having a good time. 

With Christmas, you have all this build up for a day of unwrapping gifts and trying to figure out what to do with that pink bunny suit your aunt made you (A Christmas Story anyone?). Christmas is pretty much over in a few hours. However, Thanksgiving can be stretched out over the entire day and is not nearly as stressful as other holidays. Today was about being with the ones you love while eating, drinking and being merry. Thanksgiving is a calm day in which I get to cook (one activity I LOVE) and have people enjoy what I made. I love this holiday so much that I enjoyed four of them - today being my last one. I must admit, my third Thanksgiving with my friends may have been my favorite though - I mean, they have become family away from home and the experience was unique.