Have no fear; it is just a red pen. As public relations students at Illinois State University, it is engrained into us that we must be excellent writers to be successful in the industry. The problem is, however, you cannot become a better writer without taking action and actually writing.
There seems to be a common theme amongst underclassman, no one wants to write. In a way, I can relate. When I was a sophomore in the ISU Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, I was a member of the relations committee. I was so afraid every week when we met, that I would be called on to write something for the blog. It was that little voice in my head telling me that my writing was awful, and anything I had to say meant nothing. There was a fear that someone was going to take that dreaded red pen to something I had put a lot of work into, so I sat in the back and kept my writing to myself. That is one of my biggest regrets as an underclassman. Now, as the president of ISU PRSSA, I have a new perspective. I see that little voice get the best of my fellow classmates and members of our Chapter. The beauty of being a part of our organization is that it allows members to be challenged in all aspects of public relations. No matter what “committee” you choose to go to each week, does not mean you are limited to just that. I encourage everyone to take a step out of their comfort zone and try writing more than just papers for class, and truly make your mark. There is so much talent flourishing within the ISU PRSSA Chapter, that it would be a waste to not put it to good use with the blog. Writing has, and always will be the most important skills to have in public relations. When you land that first internship or job, you will be expected to know how to write, and do it well. Now is the time to put your work out there and grow as a writer, because the worst thing that can happen is… you will be successful. Written by Krista Bilow
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The Illinois State University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America welcomes Kelly Larson to the executive board as the 2016 vice president. Larson is a senior with a passion for all things marketing and public relations. She is a go-getter with big plans for her future in the public relations industry. Continue reading to learn more about ISU PRSSA’s new VP, and discover why she is so passionate for the field of public relations. Tell us about yourself. I am a senior public relations major graduating in May 2016. I grew up in Lombard, Ill., transferred to ISU junior year and got involved with ISU PRSSA right away. I have a passion for working with media and enjoy expressing myself through creative writing. I approach new challenges head on and am determined to succeed in whatever adventure my future holds for me. What made you choose to be a public relations major? I originally wanted to be a marketing major, but after doing research on public relations I found a lot of similarities between the two. I felt like public relations would provide me with more of an opportunity to express myself in a creative way. After researching the ISU School of Communication and public relations program, I knew that it was something I wanted to be a part of. I am still passionate about marketing and received the certification for consumer marketing from the College of DuPage. Who is the one person in your life that you look up to the most? I look up to my parents and older brother the most. My parents have always been incredibly supportive of everything I do, and my brother was the first person in my family to graduate college. What is one of your biggest accomplishments in your time at Illinois State University? Being appointed vice president for ISU PRSSA this semester has been a huge accomplishment. After attending PRSSA 2015 National Conference in Atlanta this past November, I fell even more in love with being active in such a phenomenal Chapter. If you were to tell me when I first joined ISU PRSSA that I would become vice president, I would have laughed in your face. I am honored that the Chapter and my fellow executive board members believed in me enough to take on this position. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? Paris has always been a dream for me. I took French in middle school and high school and fell in love with the culture. My high school French teacher was incredibly inspirational and really immersed her students into the French beyond anything you could imagine. Are you a night owl or an early bird? I am definitely a night owl. I find that night is when I do my best work and am more focused on getting things done. Do you have a personal motto? “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” Most people are shocked that I have found a place in a communication driven major. I tend to be more of an introvert, but love to push myself out of that comfort zone because I genuinely love public relations. Once you start pushing yourself to different levels, amazing opportunities and experiences can take place. What is one of your pet peeves? One of my biggest pet peeves is when people are dishonest with me. It takes a lot for someone to gain my trust and honesty goes a long way with that. Where do you see yourself after graduation? I would like to enter a public relations or marketing agency either in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs. I like to multitask and have diversity within the work that I am doing every day. What are you most excited about doing in your new role as vice president? I am most excited to work on the Rowan University NODAC campaign competition. This is a National PRSSA competition that our Chapter earned third place in last spring. The winners were announced at PRSSA 2015 National Conference and it made me really appreciate the hard work that ISU PRSSA puts in to make our Chapter so successful. I am determined to continue that success and give members at PRSSA 2016 National Conference that same sense of pride that I had when I heard our name called out this year. If you could give younger public relations students a word of advice, what would it be? Be as involved as you can be and start finding internships now! Something I wish I would have done different since entering the public relations program was not getting on the internship train faster. The internship experience I had this past summer with Cupcakes and Cocktails in Chicago helped me gain confidence in my abilities to be a successful public relations and marketing professional. Questions composed by Kimi Sanden Its that time of year again, line waiting, aggravated crowds, and deals, deals, deals. Students from universities around the country rush home to soak up family bonding time; you know, that special time waiting in the WalMart line surrounded by the frigid November air at two in the morning. At least this seems to be the norm sweeping the country. However, this writer, in a sort of Cindy Lou Who state of mind, is wondering where has the Thanksgiving spirit gone? The holiday shopping season kickoff, known as Black Friday, is just a few short days away and the promotions have already begun. JC Penny has been made the most notable of these promotions boldly opening its doors at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving day. After visiting JC Penny online, I instantly was exposed to percentages in eye-drawing fonts and color schemes that bolster phrases like, “$500 off” and “super-savings coupon,” it is clear that the store is attempting to draw in masses of Black Friday shoppers with incredible deals. Now, it is understandable that these deals allow less-fortunate people to get gifts for loved ones at a very reasonable price. However, at what point do we stop sacrificing time with loved ones to get them material items? It seems that we sacrifice more each year and allow the “holiday shopping season” to start earlier and earlier. But, credit to where credit is due, the stores that open its doors on Black Friday or before (looking at you, JC Penny) with slashed prices for the holiday season are proving to be efficient when it comes to advertising against competition. The idea of standing in line out in the cold among the masses just to get a good deal never appealed to me. For me, the holiday season has always been about cramming loved ones under one roof, embracing cousins for the first time since last November, listening to my dad retell the same stories every year with just a tad more embellishment, a house echoing with laughter, and the simplicity of being together. It has never been about the materials to be possessed, but rather the intangibles that come with being together. However you choose to spend your holiday season, be it standing in line under the lights of a storefront or in a warm house with the comfort of loved ones, I wish you a happy holiday season full of giving thanks! Happy Holidays Ty Fiesel Keep calm; it’s only a cup. Since 1997, Starbucks has brought the holiday cheer to consumers with festive red cups. In the past, artists have displayed common winter themes such as snowflakes, snowmen, and Christmas trees. This winter, the iconic coffee company decided to leave the graphics off and have a festive all red cup with the green and white Starbucks logo in the center. Little did Starbucks know, they would catch national attention and mass amounts of negative comments from consumers that loved the old holiday cups. While some people have jumped to conclusion and have made speculations that “Starbucks hates Jesus” or “Starbucks hates Christmas”, Starbucks did not do this because of any religious reasons. People have been overreacting to such a small issue and blowing it out of proportion. Which is rather disheartening considering there are more important issues in the world today. Starbucks customers should be grateful that they are able to enjoy the luxury of Starbucks coffee, a luxury not known to many worldwide. Last holiday season, Starbucks created the Red Cup Contest on Pinterest during the first week of November. This November, the Seattle based coffee company received over 24,000 entries after five days of launching the contest. The second annual Starbucks Red Cup Contest consisted of customers snapping a creative photo of their festive red holiday cup for a chance to win a Starbucks eGift card. I encourage readers to check out the Red Cup Contest on Pinterest and see how creative minds across the world express their festive red holiday cup. Although many have missed out on the Red Cup Contest this year, due to the cloud of hatred towards the new festive red cups, this should not cloud one’s vision for the holiday season that is upon us. As the annual festive holiday cups took off in a direction Starbucks did not entirely expect it to go, the company stood their ground and sparked creativity with their customers. Could this be why they left a blank red canvas for their customers this year? Maybe Starbucks wanted to focus on the customer’s creative mind more than the cup. The holiday season is upon us; I want to express the importance of being grateful to have the gift of life. Happy Holidays. Brett Cozzi What happens when an Illinois State University student’s inspiration stems from “ Gilmore Girls” and “Anderson Cooper 360”? You find Kelsey Farrell, public relations major and political science minor, leading the relation committee members in managing the ISU PRSSA newsletter. Tell us about yourself. This is my first semester in the public relations program after I switched from print journalism. When I first enrolled at Illinois State University, I was a print journalism major with plans to become the real-life incarnate of Rory Gilmore, but had to give this dream up when I realized I couldn't live up to her unreasonable perfectionism and impossibly shiny hair. I realized I wanted to stretch my writing skills outside the confines of the inverted pyramid, and public relations seemed like a good fit for me. Before I formally made the switch I joined PRSSA so I knew exactly what I was getting into. I liked the organization so much I applied for the Newsletter Chair so I can share my publishing experience with the entire chapter. What influenced your decision to apply to the public relations program at ISU? I wanted to apply my writing skills to something more structurally rigid than journalism, without sacrificing cleverness and creativity. I think there is a significant overlap between journalism and public relations; there is a lot of power in telling people’s stories, and I like the idea of telling people’s stories in a way that will actively help the organization. What made you want to join ISU PRSSA and become the Newsletter Chair of the Relations Committee leadership team? At the beginning of the semester, I was looking to change my major to public relations. I decided to join PRSSA to gain more knowledge of the industry. I gravitated towards Relations for the weekly writing opportunities, and stayed because Kimi, Tye and Ali are such effortlessly wonderful leaders. What other things are you involved with on ISU’s campus? I’ve been a Front Desk Manager with University Housing for the past three years and this semester I joined WZND’s public relations staff. I also recently accepted an internship with the Registrar’s Office to help spread the word about Summer Session, ISU’s summer program. What hobbies do you have outside of school? I am a really big theatre nerd, so I spend a lot of time on breaks seeing plays and musicals. I have a categorized list of every show I have seen since 2009 on my laptop and I update it religiously. I am also a really big TV-watcher, and this season I have been really into “Nathan for You” and “Casual.” What is your dream job? When I was little I told my Mom I wanted to be “a ballerina who’s also an astronaut” and, of course, that’s still my number one goal. If the whole space thing does not pan out, I will be happy working as a social media manager for a theatre company or a comedy club. What helps keep you motivated? I like to plan trips or buy tickets to shows far in advance so I always have something to look forward to after a rough month or a difficult semester. Plus, I get through a lot of bad days knowing there will always be a new episode of “Late Night with Seth Meyers” on the following night. Who do you look up to the most? My Mom was a woman who could walk into a room and immediately make everyone feel special and included, and if I could have one-tenth of that ability I would be a much better person. I also look up to my Grandpa, Tom O’Malley, because he is the most selfless, funniest, kindest man I know. He always tells me “Life is like a bowl of cherries, sometimes you get the pits!” but being his granddaughter is anything but. Questions composed by Alyse Marin Charlea Schueler’s vision for the future is bright and colorful, while her time as a Redbird is painted red and white! Schueler is not the average ISU student, with an ear for music, an eye for color , and a mind for communication, Schueler is incorporating all of her talents into her studies at ISU. Balancing a double major in public relations and music liberal arts is no easy feat, but this Bloomington-Normal native is doing it with style. Tell us about yourself. I am a sophomore, double majoring in music liberal arts and public relations. I am actually a triplet, and my sister goes to Illinois State University as well. My brother attends Washington University in St. Louis. I have lived my entire life in Bloomington-Normal, so I am a proud townie. Sometimes, I even help other college students discover where new and better restaurants are. Although you grew up in this area and attended U-High, one of Illinois State University’s laboratory schools, what helped you decide to attend ISU? I had visited a great deal of other schools, and every one offered to give me roughly the same amount in scholarship. I then turned to what those schools, including ISU, could offer me besides money. I looked to ISU’s music program, which was really strong and a huge pull. I really liked the violin professor, Dr. Gentry, and the orchestra director, Dr. Block, whom I had performed under in the Central Illinois Youth Symphony. I loved them both and thought they were awesome instructors. Those two music professors, along with Dr. Fredstrom, the Honors Program director at the time, pushed me to come to ISU, and they have helped to make my experience here truly amazing. How do you plan to use both of your majors – public relations and music liberal arts – together? I never wanted to give up music, so that is why I am a music major. I wanted to become a better musician for myself. The public relations field is where I would like to find a career in. I would love to work somewhere that has a music program, like the Bloomington Center for Performing Arts, and work in the public relations or development department. Ideally, I will find a job in which I can utilize the skills I will learn in the public relations program while always being surrounded by music. Not only are you an accomplished violinist, but you also see music and words in color. How would you explain this to those who do not see the world the way you do? I have synesthesia, which means that I can see words, numbers, and some music in colors. Each letter of the alphabet is a unique color to me, and groups of letters – words – make up different colors. Numbers also have colors and backgrounds of color. Music is a little different in that chords become colors. However, if there are lyrics with the music, I cannot see any colors specifically because the colors from the words and music wash each other out. Names have colors, and if I know someone, their personality has color. My name, Charlea, is a kind of a purplish pink, and my middle name, Elizabeth, is a light baby blue. My last name, Schueler, is a silvery green, which is hard to describe because that color only exists in my mind. Everything has a color, and I have to see it that way in order to understand it all. Where do you see yourself in ten years? Ideally, I see myself in a city like Bloomington-Normal. I would be happy staying here for the rest of my life if I found a career that suited my morals, values and passions – music and communication. Questions composed by Ashlyn Gramm PRSSA National Conference gives Illinois State University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America the opportunity to travel to cities that some have never been to. This year’s conference is in Atlanta from Nov. 6-10 ISU PRSSA members are thrilled to travel to a city, for which some have never seen and meet like-minded peers. While networking and professional development is the primary goal, here are five things we look forward to experiencing at the PRSSA 2015 National Conference.
1. Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives Eating is one of our favorite activities. Atlanta is host to many tasty restaurants that have their own spin on classic dishes. For classic BBQ, members will eat at Fox Bros BBQ located at 1238 DeKalb St. This local favorite has everything from brisket to pork. For brunch, members will try the White House Restaurant located at 3172 Peachtree Rd. White House was voted “Best Breakfast and Brunch” in 2013 by Atlanta Magazine. 2. Atlanta Streetcar The Atlanta Streetcar is Atlanta’s newest form of transportation. The streetcar connects the downtown and entertainment districts. After a long day of professional development, members can take the streetcar to enjoy Atlanta. The one-way ticket is $1 and a day pass is $3. 3. Zoo Atlanta Located in Grant Park, Zoo Atlanta has over 1,400 animals from 200 different species. The highlight of the zoo are the twin pandas, Mei Lun and Mei Huan. They are the only twin pandas born in the United States. Zoo Atlanta is open Monday - Friday from 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and Saturday - Sunday from 9:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. on weekends. The student rate is $18.99. 4. “Walking Dead” Tour Atlanta Movie Tours offers residents and tourists a tour of the “Walking Dead” show and “Zombieland” movie. Guests receive a tour of the hospital, goat farm, and the CDC. The guide was casted as a “walker” in the show and can tell behind-the-scenes stories. Tickets are $65. 5. World of Coca-Cola The World of Coca-Cola is a museum of Coca-Cola products. Guests enter the lobby where they prepare to experience everything Coca-Cola has to offer. In the loft, guests can see memorabilia of the past and present Coco-Cola. A weekend filled with networking, learning, and exploring the city of Atlanta is what PRSSA 2015 National Conference is all about and ISU PRSSA cannot wait for the experience of a lifetime. Written by Tyler Krivich After a long year of growth and determination, sophomore member Ashlyn Gramm has every intention of making this year her year. After declaring her major as public relations, this Bloomington-Normal native has put her dream of incorporating the study of Public Relations and Physical Therapy into action as a post-graduate career. Through Illinois State University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, Gramm hopes to continue to refine her skills in public relations, as well as open herself up to new opportunities, following some of the best advice she has ever received- meet this week’s Member Monday, Ashlyn Gramm! Tell us about yourself. I am a townie! I grew up in Bloomington-Normal and have been around the ISU campus since I can remember. My major is public relations, but I am planning to continue onto Physical Therapy school after I graduate. I live at home with my mom and younger brother, but I probably spend more time on campus than I do there. I am involved in the ISU Young Group, ISU PRSSA, and the Pre-Heath Society on campus. Let's do a little bit of reflecting: Now that you're a sophomore, in what ways do you feel you have grown since freshman year? I think I have definitely grown my confidence this year. I came in as an undeclared student freshman year, and it frustrated me that I could not figure out what direction I wanted to pursue. That frustration led to a lack of confidence, which led to more frustration, and so on. But the faculty at ISU has been great in helping me figure out where my passions lie and how to then act on them. The combination of your major and post-graduation plan for Physical Therapy school is very unique! How do you plan to combine aspects from these two fields in your desired future career? It is definitely a unique combination! Not many people would come up with pairing together public relations and physical therapy! The goal right now is to graduate with a public relations degree and continue onto becoming a physical therapist. As I learn more about public relations and physical therapy, I have realized how closely related they are. A lot of public relations revolves around pitching and convincing your client that you truly believe that what you are wanting for them is in their best interest. The same goes for physical therapy, only it is more medically focused. Typically, the issues that arise in physical therapy situations are the result of miscommunication, and my goal is to bring an increased knowledge of the communication process from a public relations standpoint and make my physical therapy practice much more effective. Since becoming a member of ISU PRSSA, what have you learned? I have definitely learned more about the public relations field since joining ISU PRSSA. I honestly did not know much when I applied to the program. If for some reason, I do not go on to becoming a physical therapist, PRSSA has helped me narrow down what field within public relations I would prefer to have a career in. What is the best advice you have ever received and how has it affected you? I think the best advice I ever received was to not be afraid to try things outside your comfort zone. If you try something and hate it, then you basically end up right back where you are right now, no harm done. But if you try something and love it, then you have one more awesome thing to do with your life. Honestly, a lot of the decisions we fret over are pretty trivial, so we might as well stop spending time worrying about whether or not we'll like something and just try it out. Questions composed by Chloe Kasper Audie Lauf is a senior public relations major that transferred to Illinois State University last year. Lauf joined Illinois State University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America and hit the ground running; immediately becoming an account executive for the student-run public relations firm, PRogressive Image (PRi). Lauf was just beginning his relationship with ISU PRSSA when he received the opportunity to join the executive board as the PRi Director. His outgoing personality and ability to lead others will take this young man far in the professional world. Tell us about yourself. I am a first generation college student. College was my choice to pursue. It took me awhile to figure out how to combine my love for art, interacting with people, and my strategic thinking, but then I found public relations to be an industry where I could utilize my strengths and work on my weaknesses. I am currently majoring in Public Relations and Apparel Merchandising and Design, while pursuing a minor in Spanish. I work as a public relations intern for WALK2CLASS, a boutique student realty company, and as a sales associate at PACSUN. I also work as a Marketing Coordinator for The Vidette, the ISU student newspaper, while also being a part of the public relations intern staff for the ISU Redbird Ice Hockey Club team. Somehow, I still manage to find time to be a Style Guru for Collegefashionista.com during my busy schedule. Also follow me on Twitter @audielauf27 and Instagram @audielauf27 for the latest and greatest street styles from Illinois State University. What do you do in PRSSA? I currently hold the position as the Director of the Chapter’s student-run firm, PRogressive Image. My responsibilities include supervising and mentoring the Account Executives, Assistant Account Executives, and the Art Directors. This year, PRi has three outstanding accounts: BraiZe, a pop up shop style restaurant, TV10, our broadcast journalism television station, and United Way of McLean County , a nonprofit organization. How did you become a member of the ISU PRSSA? I attended the first meeting of the Fall 2014 semester. I did research about student organizations months before attending ISU. I wanted to make sure I got the most out of my time here as a Redbird. What have you gained from joining ISU PRSSA? I have gained more experience in professional development. I also believe that I have gained better time management skills. No matter how well you think you are at organizing your schedule, there is always room to improve. What are your goals for when you graduate? I have done research about graduate school. My brother is stationed in Florence, Italy as a Heavy Machines operator. By the time I graduate, he will be able to live off of base. I have considered attending Lorenzo De’ Medici in Florence. I want to earn my masters degree in Fashion Marketing and Merchandising. Describe your dream job. The Red Power Ranger. If that fails, then I would love to be the Creative Director for a public relations agency of fashion house. What is something a lot of people do not know about you? I am an open book. In public relations, transparency is key. What impact would you like to have on others? I hope that I can encourage others to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way. I like to be the first person that my friends call when they are in trouble, because I am always there to help. Oh, and that I am funny and have great style. Is there any quote that really captures how you live your life? I have three: “Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead.” –Charles Bukowski “Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it's yours.” –Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” - A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh Questions composed by Alex Danko So much spirit, so little time! Manage your Illinois State University 2015 Homecoming Week schedule with ISU Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America’s full-proof event guide. Wednesday: Homecoming Carnival from 7-11 p.m. First Floor of Bone Student Center Step under the big top (or to the first floor of the Bone) and enjoy classic carnival foods, carnival games, and a performance by Gamma Phi Circus at the ISU Homecoming Carnival! Thursday: Grease at 7 p.m. The Normal Theatre Break out your leather jackets and primp your poodle skirts: WBNQ hosts a screening of Grease at the Normal Theatre, located in Uptown Normal. Tickets are $7, snacks are $1, and singing along is encouraged. Friday: Backstory of the Bird at 4:30 p.m. Milner Plaza Did you know ISU used to be home to the mighty Fighting Pedagogs? Aren’t you a little curious to find out what a Pedagog is? Join Reggie Redbird and University Archivist April Anderson out on Milner Plaza to learn more about Reggie’s humble beginnings and the evolution of a mascot. Pack the Arena: Redbird Volleyball at 6 p.m. Redbird Arena If you plan to #BackTheBirds as they spike Wichita State, do not leave after the game ends! Stick around Redbird Arena for the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen as well as Hoopfest: an exhibition to introduce the 2015-2016 Redbird basketball team! The End of the Tour / 7 p.m. The Normal Theatre If volleyball’s not your thing, pop over to the Normal Theatre and check out the critically acclaimed David Foster Wallace biopic “The End of the Tour.” The movie follows journalist David Lipsky (Jesse Eisenberg) as he interviews Wallace (Jason Segal) during a 1996 book tour for Wallace’s most-revered novel, “Infinite Jest” (which he finished writing during his tenure at ISU). Tickets are $7, but the joy of seeing a slice of ISU’s history on the big screen is priceless. Homecoming Bonfire from 9-11 p.m. Outside Redbird Arena Continue the post-Hoopfest excitement with music, drinks, and free pizza outside of the arena. Saturday: Town and Gown 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run / 8-9:30 a.m. Student Fitness Center Are you ready to run? Register online for Saturday morning’s annual 5K and Fun Run. If you are not ready to lace up, head over, and cheer on your favorite runnin’ Redbirds. Refreshments will be provided post-race to all runners courtesy of the Town of Normal. Homecoming Parade from 10-11:30 a.m. Kicks off at the corner of University St. and College Ave. A time-honored tradition! Find a comfy seat on the sidewalk and catch some candy at the annual ISU Homecoming Parade. The parade kicks off on College Ave., snakes through Uptown, and ends on School St. Redbird Football vs. Western Illinois University / 2 p.m. Hancock Arena Don’t miss out as the Redbirds take on (take down) Western Illinois University. If you are nervous about getting tickets to the game, don’t fret! Check out the student tickets section of GoRedbirds.com. Sunday: Redbird Soccer vs. Evansville / 1 p.m. Adelaide Street Field If you are still spirited enough to #BackTheBirds on Sunday, join Redbird Soccer at Adelaide Street Field as they take on Evansville. Be proud to be a Redbird and embrace the homecoming environment for the remainder of this week. Go Redbirds! Written by Kelsey Farrell Cristina Meesenburg is a sophomore at Illinois State University majoring in public relations. By being an active member in both the ISU Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America and the Gamma Phi Beta sorority, Meesenburg is quite involved on campus Tell us about your personality. I consider myself to be outgoing and friendly. I’m kind of a goofball and very clumsy to say the least. Why did you choose to join ISU PRSSA? I chose to join PRSSA because I am a public relations major and wanted to learn more about it. Also, I heard about the organization in the COM 178: Introduction to Public Relations course and it sounded like it is filled with great opportunities that would shape me into a better professional. What do you plan to do in your future with public relations? I hope to move to the city after college and work at a public relations agency. I am still trying to figure out my long term goals, but I hope to somehow incorporate travel and fashion into my career. How do you spend your free time? Aside from binge watching Greys Anatomy, I love hanging out with my friends and eating. Who is your biggest role model? I would say my biggest role model is my mom. I go to her for everything and could not imagine life without her. She shaped me into the person I am today. Not to mention she is my best friend on snapchat. Questions composed by Tara Babic Coming from a northwest suburb of Illinois, Naperville, Devyn Tenny is an outgoing sophomore public relations major, who joined the Illinois State University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America this year and currently serves as a member of the Development Committee. As a first semester Illinois State University transfer student, Tenny who is involved with student organizations including ISU PRSSA and Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a service and leadership sorority, and is looking to dive right in and make a difference here at ISU. How would you describe your experience as a Public Relations major so far? I have learned a lot of the basic fundamentals of the public relations field, mainly from classes I am taking such as Introduction to Public Relations with Professor Lamonica, as well as through workshops and other opportunities ISU PRSSA has made available to me during Chapter. I also have been able to find out new facts about the field, such as the different avenues of public relations , history, and more. Tell me about your experience as a transfer student at Illinois State University. I have had a lot of positive experiences so far. I really believe that ISU has done a great job at having a variety of programs and events set up to make new students feel welcome as a first year student. I have been able to meet all kinds of people from all different majors from all over the state of Illinois, and after experiencing things like Festival ISU, I am excited to get even more involved next semester. What do you do in your free time? I like to mainly relax, whether it be through taking naps after long days or just watching some of my favorite television shows or movies on Netflix. I also like to go to the Campus Recreation Center in my free time just to get my daily workout in through weight lifting, for example, but I still utilize the convenient Watterson Towers gym area if I do not feel like making the hike across the quad! What is your biggest pet peeve? I think my biggest one would be rude people in general. Do you have any tips on how to deal with stressful times in life, whether it be academically or in other situations? I would say to just take a deep breath and realize that it is just life, and that you should not take it so seriously. With that, some ways I cope with stressful times are to exercise, just to clear my mind, listen to my favorite music, and just find positive aspects in all kinds of other things in life. What is something that amazes you? I would say other people in this world amaze me. From talking with people here in Bloomington-Normal and throughout my life, hearing others’ stories and their life experiences always interest me, and the information I learn from others just brings inspiration into my own life. What are your plans after graduation? I hope to have a job in public relations, but I am currently unsure of a specific one at this time. However, I know I would want to be in an urban environment- such as New York City or Chicago. Questions composed by Daniel Gee. On Thursday, Oct. 1, members of the Illinois State University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America volunteered at the March of Dimes Signature Chef’s Auction in the Bone Student Center’s Brown Ballroom from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
The March of Dimes is a foundation that has had a growing and changing mission throughout its seventy-seven years of existence, aligning with the needs of babies and their families at times to ensure that all children have a fighting chance at life upon their arrival into the world. At its start, the March of Dimes Foundation was established with the mission of battling the polio virus, more specifically its effect on children, resulting in the development of three vaccines that ultimately eliminated the polio virus in the United States. With this mission achieved, March of Dimes expanded their mission to include working towards finding ways to prevent premature birth and accompanying defects as well as infant mortality; a mission in which they continue to fight today. The auction serves as a way for the March of Dimes foundation to collect funds to put towards achieving their new mission, only calling for as little as a dime as a gift that can be made towards the efforts of the foundation. The auction also serves as a way to continue to spread awareness about the struggles many families continue to face upon the early arrival of their newborn children. The members of ISU PRSSA recognize the importance of this organization and what they do, and put forth their best efforts in their best attire on this evening to aid in any way that they could. The auction began with a cocktail hour, giving the guests time to check-in to receive their bid number card, converse amongst one another, and have the opportunity to makes bids on the items available in the silent auction. Some ISU PRSSA members monitored these areas, being available to answer any questions and to carry out the processing duties that followed an item being sold to a bidder. At seven, the next portion of the night began which included guests taking their seats, dinner being served, and the opening speeches and presentations of the auction being given, one of which was given by ISU’s own President Larry Dietz and wife, Marlene Dietz. Following this was the live auction, where ISU PRSSA members worked as runners, delivering the items won to the winning bidders as well as carrying out the processing duties of the win that followed. Throughout the entire night, ISU PRSSA members were able to get better acquainted with one another as well as with the leadership behind the production of the event. This behind the scenes action and communication gave ISU PRSSA members a firsthand look at what could become some of the tasks (or as we say in Chapter, some of the “hats”) they will take on in their future careers as public relations professionals. Upon the end of the live auction, ISU PRSSA members were able to leave the event with not only a broadened perspective on what issues our society continues to face today, but also with an idea and a little bit of experience of how our efforts could help in making a change. ISU PRSSA will continue to take part in events like the one described here, looking to give our members more than just the information, but to also provide them the experience needed to take on the roles they aspire to have in the future. Composed by Chloe Kasper A city girl and true optimist, Chloe Kasper’s passion for public relations and her confident attitude helps her bridge the gap between alumni and current members of the Illinois State University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America as she serves as this year’s Alumni Chair. Read on to find out what this future PR professional and dear friend of mine plans to do with this leadership position. Tell us about yourself. I am a sophomore public relations major and a Latin American studies minor. I grew up in Chicago Ridge, Ill., a small southwest suburb of Chicago, so it is safe to say I am quite the city girl. However, my love for the city did not stop me from pursuing a higher education here at ISU. I love being involved on campus, which is what drew me to join ISU PRSSA, as I saw no better way to become acquainted with the people, opportunities, and experiences that the public relations major provides. I am also a member of two other registered student organizations, ISU’s Chapter of Her Campus and The National Society of Leadership and Success (Sigma Alpha Pi). Outside of my activity in RSO’s, I love to sing and dance. When I am not writing, I am singing, and sometimes I even do both at the same time! In my free time, I enjoy long drawn out phone conversations with my family and friends, binge watching romantic comedies, and reading anything related to popular culture, especially anything music related! Personally, what do you plan to gain from this position? From this position, I plan to gain experience in a multiplicity of areas. This position allows me to learn more about the public relations program at ISU (our organization in particular!) and the professional careers of people it helped foster. Along with that comes learning about networking, how to create one and then continuously build upon it. I also hope to learn more about design, as I will be working with new Adobe programs to design the look of the Alumni Newsletter. As an avid writer, I also hope to gain more knowledge and practice with different style formats as well as improve my editing skills. What you plan to accomplish through your position as Alumni Chair? One of my main goals as the Alumni Chair is to connect our young public relations professionals with more experienced professionals out in the field today as a way to extend the teachings ISU’s public relations program and ISU PRSSA in particular outside of the classroom. I also hope to make connections between our organization and what we produce with other departments and organizations at ISU to continue increasing our reach in our professional network, as well as work to gain alumni support in the form of monetary gifts so that ISU PRSSA can continue to provide its members with life changing knowledge and opportunities. What is your spirit animal? It is not a what but a who for me: Taylor Swift! I have been a diehard fan ever since she released her first album and I have to say I have lived vicariously through her ever since, especially during her curly haired years because she was major hair inspiration for me and other curly haired girls everywhere! What’s your favorite book and what impact has it had on your personal and/or professional life? My favorite book is hands down The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger. It is a classic, so that right there tells you the impact it must have on readers everywhere and throughout time! This novel has shown me that like Holden Caulfield, everyone experiences moments in their life that seem hard to understand and do not make sense or match up to what you had planned to happen, but that it is okay to feel things, and express those feelings, as well as make mistakes and then move forward knowing more. His character development also resonated with me as he always stays true to himself and what he believes in even when others disagree, look down upon him, and even as he grows and matures himself. The expression of his teenage angst in this novel was a great learning outlet for me about life especially during my pre-teen and teenage years. Moral of the story? Not everyone is a phony! If you were a (Disney) song, which one would you be and why? “Reflection” from the movie Mulan. The movie has a special place in my heart because it was the first Disney movie I ever say in theaters. The song is all about finding yourself and sharing it with others, which I am all about. It is what brought me to public relations, to be honest! Also, this song is so fun to sing!!! Questions composed by Deja Whitt For an Illinois State University student busy with student organizations, clubs, sorority, homework, and finding time to watch her favorite show, New Girl, Kristin Lynch manages to do it all. From north west suburb, Glenview, sophomore Kristin Lynch is currently undecided but is a perspective Public Relation’s major. This is her first year of being a member of ISU Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America and someone you should get to know. Why do you want to pursue a job in public relations? I like to be in an active environment with people and planning different events. In high school writing was one of my better subjects in school and something that I enjoy doing even outside of the school setting. Finding a job in Public Relations is a good way that I can always go to work doing something that I love. Do you think that ISU PRSSA is a good organization for you? I feel that ISU PRSSA will expand my skills as a professional and I will experience great network opportunities that I would have not had otherwise. I am also excited for forming friendships with different members in ISU PRSSA and watch them grow and succeed in careers. What would your perfect day look like? Wake up, go to Chicago and get juevos rancheros, and go shopping with my friends. After shopping I will go to lunch at Beatix and then get ready will all of my friends to go to the Timeflies concert. Questions composed by Kim Hocker |
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