Being a senior, I was a little bit hesitant to join PRowl at first. With encouragement from my friends and the great things I kept hearing about PRowl, I decided to go for it, and I am so happy I did. This semester I grew as a public relations practitioner, networked with other students, and got hands-on public relations experience. Here are my five most important takeaways from my first semester:
- Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.
I am so happy that I put myself out there by joining PRowl. Not only did I meet a whole new group of friends, but also so many doors were opened for me in my career path. I was able to hear first-hand from and network with professional guest speakers in the industry. I attended workshops through PRSSA, which helped me develop some essential PR writing pieces, and I got to do crucial PR work for my internal account.
- Practice really does make perfect.
I have always been told that the only way to grow and get better as a writer is to write. This was the case for me throughout this semester in PRowl, and I can say the same for any other PR or communication skills. The more I wrote and did assignments for my account, the more comfortable I felt doing them and the easier they became.
- Deadlines are important.
We all know it is essential to get things done and take care of things in a timely manner. In the PR field, this is even more crucial; deadlines are very important. Timing means everything with the busy and unpredictable days being a PR professional brings. Meeting deadlines and getting things done on time not only makes everything go smoother for everyone but also protects your credibility.
- Social media is key.
With the fast-paced society we live in, things are changing each day. It can be hard to tell what a fad is just and what is a tool to us as strategic communicators. One thing that is certain, though, is social media is not going anywhere and can be used significantly to your organization’s benefit. Not only are you informing those of your work with self-promotion, but you are also networking and communicating, which is another key for PR practitioners.
- Always pay attention to detail.
Proofread, proofread, proofread. Attention to detail is another extremely important thing I learned throughout my first semester in PRowl. When you proofread, you can minimize any lingering errors and mistakes from getting into someone else’s hands. Spell check is a huge help, but it doesn’t catch everything. Practicing basic grammar mechanics and proofreading your work can help create fewer mistakes and once again protect your credibility.
I have grown and learned so much as a communication professional during this semester in PRowl. I am grateful for all my experiences and look forward to participating again next semester.
Maggie Dykan, Account Associate
prowlpr.com 