By: Kasia Naessens
The Integrative Public Relations program at CMU is incredible. The required courses prepare you for your future as a professional. One class that has a substantial impact is JRN 450WI with Jim Wojcik. This class teaches you the nitty-gritty details of PR writing. One unique component of this course are the guest speakers who offer great insights and advice as we begin our professional endeavors. Here are some that resonate with me:
1. Make the mistakes here
Wojcik preaches this to his students every day. The reality is we are all human and we make mistakes. Although in the PR world, it is crucial to avoid as many mistakes as possible. Wojcik wants us to use this class to make mistakes and learn from them, so future ones will not be replicated. He always says to not be afraid of failure. This may be why I appreciate the course so much. He is okay with us making mistakes as long as we learn from them and strive to not repeat them.
2. Get involved
Throughout the semester we have listened to four speakers and all of them reiterated how important it is to get involved and gain as much experience as you can. Each speaker told us to build our portfolios and make connections with our classmates and others. They emphasized that it will put us ahead of the game when it comes time to find an internship and career.
3. Find a job that reflects the personal life you want
This quote stuck out to me the most. Often times, people tell you to go for your dream job or dream company. But oddly enough, it may not be what you thought it was. Alicia, from Dow Chemical, recommended we search for a company that provides the personal life we want and dream of. It sounds backwards, but she explained how doing this can actually make you happier. Your life will not revolve around work, but rather the life you have outside of it. Alicia took this advice from an advisor when she was in college and now feels very content with her life.
The key takeaways I learned from our professional guest speakers: make mistakes, get involved and find your dream job that fits your personal life. It’s important to enjoy your career and your life.