Reflection

Exercise#2: Verbalizing something creates a commitment to yourself.

Exercise#3:

1. I think that I have grown in the aspect of understanding my own flaws and fears of planning ahead. The growth comes in my slightly better ability to manage that fear and make steps to over come it.

2. I have tried to change my thinking to a more active thinking. In learning from Barbara Sher I have recognized that actions make a difference. Dealing with my fear and taking the steps to move forward with my plan. I still struggle, but I am taking more risks.

3. I have never interviewed someone who has achieved what I wanted to achieve. It never occurred to me. I think I gained some great contacts and this sort of activity has allowed me to move forward, and move closer to my goal.

4. 1) The opportunity to learn about self love 2) the opportunity to see others success stories

3) discussion time

5. 1) more time 2)

6. 1) more time to discuss the readings 2) more time for discussing films

Exercise#5:

I actually ran into some great luck this week. I met two people who gave me their stories.

Samantha McAllen: She achieved my goal very specifically. She graduated with a masters in public relations and is now working in Chicago. She just graduated last spring and is working as an assistant in a public relations firm. She was able to tell me more about the rigor of graduate school and the admissions process. She said that communications skills were key in being successful and self discipline. She said that she loved the program and really enjoyed studying P.R. She also said that She also said that my English major as an undergraduate will be very helpful in learning to write press releases and understanding the work I'll be editing. Additionally she said the job market is very difficult now but she is hoping to work her way up in the industry.

Matthew Burke:

I spoke with Matthew Burke who is also a fairly recent graduate from Georgia Southern. He worked with the law firm that I interned at for some of their publicity. He said that working in public relations is a 24-7 job. There are aspects of socializing and office work. He said that breaking into the industry is very difficult and he hopes to work with a large firm someday. He said working for a law firm was very different and a lot lighter load than the average client. He said that he felt graduate school was important in helping me to get a job. He also said he felt the bachelors degree is the new high school diploma and that graduate school would help me to achieve my goal. He also gave me several other contacts that I am still waiting to hear back from. Even though we are concluding class I would still like to interview them and hopefully open more opportunities for myself.

Bis. Meeting

Step 1: My partner Lea and I have a few interviews but are missing some as well. We have both applied for a number of internships and are waiting to hear responses. I heard back from one internship but it is not in the field looking for. I thought it was for P.R. but it is for sales and advertising.

Step2: Lea and I are actually having similar hard times in that we are both having trouble finding a role model. Lea is not sure how to get into the field, forensic sciences. I suggested that she speak to a police department but she had already attempted that. I told her she should ask to speak to a detective that may be able to recommend a forensic scientist. I also know a police officer that may be able to help her. I am going to talk to him on Tuesday to see if I can get her a contact.

She suggested that I speak to someone in our class who is trying to go into journalism. She suggested that since journalism and public relations are so similar he may know someone. Additionally she has a friend who is majoring in public relations who may know someone I can talk to! (Exciting) William Kholer is another contact she suggested at UIC, he works in advertising.

Step3:

Our step two worked hand in hand with our step three. In discussing hard times we were able to network and hopefully open doors to make new connections. The steps are helpful but it seems that our conversation flowed into the steps without us realizing. We talked about what was difficult and then realized we could help each other. (networking)

1. Apply to five internships:

This is a very scary process for me. I think I am just afraid of the rejection more than anything. I sent the resumes out and am waiting for a response.

2. Creating a visual board for things that I want: When creating this board I felt confused in a way. Creating pictures and actually making decisions about what I want is intimidating. My visual board isn't completely finished because I realized I don't know exactly what I want.

3. Call all public relations contacts: I have yet to hear back from any of the new contacts I have called. I plan to make a third follow up call tomorrow.

Frustration

I called the contacts given to me in class. I got zero return phone calls. Out of desperation I googled Public Relations firms in Chicago. The only person who was willing to talk to me was terribly cold. I spoke with the head of public relations at Dresner Public Relations. His take on entering the public relations field was far different from my last interview. He felt that going to graduate school would give me a competitive edge and with the economy it is necessary to have a masters degree. He said that working in public relations was a 24 hour a day job there is no such thing as being off the clock. He said that he felt the most rewarding part of his job is seeing the results that his clients receive from when his work. He said he felt an essential part of being successful in public relations is knowing business and how it operates with communications.

Talking to him was honestly a disappointment. His tone was overall boring and he seemed very unfriendly. I went ahead with the interview because he was the only person willing to talk to me. I would still like to interview more people and I hope to get a return call soon. I have an in-person interview with Mr.Al Beard on wednesday and he seems much more encouraging.

Even though my interview did not go well I went onto craigslist and found a few public relations internships I am going to apply for. I feel nervous about the rejection but I am sending out my resume tonight.

First Interview

I spoke with Al Beard of Crawford Broadcasting. He has been in broadcasting for 35 years. In my conversation with Mr. Beard I was able to learn a few things that may alter my flow chart. Mr. Beard did not attend graduate school and seems to be very successful in the public relations field. Additionally, he gave me some great suggestions for moving into the field. He suggested latching on to a public relations company called Margery and Corogey and Associates. He also suggested that I spend time keeping up with all the important news sources and maybe sitting in on a news broadcast. Through this I should get a better idea of what sort of people I'd be working with. i need to learn all media sources and learn who's the best in media. He also said I was heading in the right direction with my English major because Public Relations requires great writing skills. He said networking was essential in Public Relations, as was getting to know you client. He said that working in Public relations was changing you lifestyle; it isn't the typical 9-5 job because work can come at any hour. He provided another Public Relations source for me to interview as well as another meeting with him next Tuesday. Mr. Beard is very passionate about his field and he says that it is important that i be passionate about it too if I want to want to be successful.

Assignment# 5

Exercise #1:

Work in public relations--edit resume--send resume to internship opportunities--get internship

--get online--research graduate schools--apply to graduate school--go to graduate school for public relations

--meet more people--get role model--interview role model--acquire more information

--get good grades--get good GRE score--apply to graduate school--get into graduate school

Exercise#2

1. Paul Burke- Attorney
2. Bryan Moore - Attorney
3. Chad Jacobs -Attorney
4. Amy Bull- Teacher
5. Kirk Robinson- Teacher
6. Kay Mills- Teacher
7. Jim Spina- small buis. owner (restaurant)
8. Daniel Byrd- teacher
9. Bo Burke- attorney
10. Bethany Moore- paralegal

Assignment# 3

Exercise#4:

I am red. I am passionate. I am strong. I am loyal. I am bold.

Exercise#5:

This person is organized. This person loves sports. This person is from Georgia. This person likes reading (sports, fiction, philosophy). This person likes a variety of music: Whitney Houston, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Beatles, Run DMC, Elton John) This person has a Panamanian themed room. This person loves black. This persons apartments is eclectic. This person seems solitude, there is a large fuzzy dog.

Exercise#6:

You are so perfect in every way. I worship the ground your precious feet walk on. Um. Um uh hold on. You are swift. What did you put in the beginning? You are loyal, like a dog. You are a very good interior decorator. You are delightfully intelligent. You know what you like and don't like. Did you put youre loyal in there? You are a great dancer. You're dependable. You're open minded. You have a keen sense of who is what is right in the world. Your taste in sports teams are spectacular. I have heart burn. I love that we can share the same shoes.

Exercise#7:

1. watching football- done today, costs money, alone, planned, not job related, no physical risks, fast paced, oh so spiritual

2. watching baseball- done last week, costs money, alone, planned, not job related, no physical risks, slow paced, spiritual with the baseball gods

3. running- done yesterday, free, not job related, physical risks, fast paced, spiritual

4. dancing by myself- done today, free, alone, spontaneous, not job related, some physical risks, fast paced, spiritual

5. yelling at football on tv- done today, costs money, alone, spontaneous, not job related, some physical risks, fast paced, spiritual

6. yelling at baseball- done last week, costs money, alone, spontaneous,not job related, some physical risks, fast paced, spiritual

7. reading what I want- done last month, free, alone, planned, not job related, no physical risks, slow paced, not spiritual

8. being the BOSS at Taboo- done two months ago, free, with friends, planned, not job related, no physical risks, fast paced, not spiritual

9. being the boss at Trivial Pursuit- one two months ago, free, with friends, planned, not job related, no physical risks, fast paced, not spiritual

10. celebrating halloween- done almost a year ago, costs, with friends, planned, not job related, no physical risks, fast paced, not spiritual

11. playing nfl and college picks with my family- done two days ago, free,planned, not job related, no physical risks, fast paced, not spiritual

12. playing with my dogs- played with one today, free, spontaneous, not job related, no physical risks, fast paced, not spirtual

13. watching Martin- done a week ago, free, spontaneous, not job related, no physical risks, slow paced, not spirtual

14. playing fantasy football- done today, free, planned, not job related, no physical risks, slow paced, not spiritual

15. shopping with my mom- done two months ago, costs, planned, not job related, no physical risks, slow paced, not spiritual

16. singing loudly- done today, free, not job related, no physical risks, slow paced, not spiritual

17. going home to Atlanta- done two months ago, costs, not job related, some physical risks, spiritual,

18. saying boo yah- done today, not job related, no physical risks, slow paced, not spiritual

19. playing laser tag with my mom- done 2 months ago, planned, some physical risk, fast paced, not spiritual

20. trash talking with my best friend- done today, not job related, one today, not job related, no physical risks, slow paced, not spiritual

Exercise# 8:

I would be at my best when surrounded by my best friends. My friends are closer to me than my relatives. I am most comfortable with them and can be my best self.

Exercise#9:

I would wake up in the late morning to the smell of bacon, eggs and coffee. Then I would spend the afternoon watching football. In the evening I would meet up with all of my friends for a game of taboo, which I would dominate at.