By Kristen Leis
I would have never imagined that
cheesesteaks and public relations would be forever associated in my mind. But
such is the case because I was given the opportunity to attend a public
relations conference in Philadelphia this October.
The JohnstonWells PR firm selects two students each year to attend this event
and, along with Alexie Pitsch, I was sent to the 40th Annual Public
Relations Student Society of America National Conference.
Though the field of public relations wants events to be controlled and strategic, the element of surprise should never be neglected. I was excited because I didn’t know what to expect or exactly what I would experience when attending the conference and visiting a new place.
What was in store for me was a six-day trip overflowing with special guest speakers, lectures, presentations and activities.
In one lecture, I listened to a woman describe orchestrating the creation of a 700-pound cheddar cheese Mount Rushmore to send on tour in order to promote Cheez-Its.
In another, a woman from Dow Chemical explained adapting the company’s “Human Element” campaign to different cultures and demographics. And in a presentation about working in a diverse environment, a speaker opened our minds to what it really means in today’s “flat world” to work with an array of people from different backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities.
Three special guest speakers were featured as well and each one brought a completely different style of speaking and relating to the audience to the table. In conjunction with networking with PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) members, people were treated to speeches from Mia Farrow, Tim Russert and Donna Brazile.
Along the way, I was able to meet engaging and interesting people as well. Everywhere I turned there was a student from another state or a professional in a unique area of public relations. Even when a botched community service event ended up being a two-hour bus ride in loops around a park, it was an opportunity to meet new people and visit between the potholes.
The conference also featured a career fair filled with résumés, business cards and handshakes. It was an invaluable opportunity to be in a ballroom packed with people from large public relations firms and related businesses from around the country.
Overall, the conference was very similar to the field of public relations itself – varied and endlessly stimulating.
Though the conference had exciting planned-out activities from morning to night, I really believe that the best part of it all was gaining experience outside of these activities. When else do you get the opportunity to be in a jam-packed room filled with people from every state? When else do you get to put into practice networking and conversation skills on a day-to-day basis? When else do you have the pleasure of visiting with a Zimbabwean public relations professional while waiting to board your plane?
The exciting and fulfilling part of the entire trip was getting to have that guaranteed time to fill up with knowledge in the sessions and activities yet also encountering and experiencing other integral activities that are never planned in life.
And though certain things cannot be planned in life, I can count on guarding this experience as a truly pertinent and important part of my educational, professional and personal development.
Gwin Johnston, of JohnstonWells, was given the same opportunity as a graduate student and saw the importance of helping others benefit from it. The entire group at JohnstonWells teamed up to graciously make this experience available to people who otherwise would not be able to partake in it. I truly want to thank JohnstonWells for enriching my life with such a wonderful and educational trip.
The trip was planned so seamlessly that I was able to savor and partake in every available event and activity. I was even able to squeeze in a trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Liberty Bell and a cheesesteak or two.
But what is even more invigorating is returning to Wyoming to continue on with my studies and daily activities and seeing how what I experienced and learned is applicable and relevant. Just with the last phase of any public relations strategy, I plan to evaluate my experiences and find how I can build off of them and continually get the most from them in life.