Personal Review - Semester's Worth of Blogs

First of all, I'd like to thank anyone who has taken the time and energy to read these blogs. I've enjoyed writing them in my own, very personal voice as I've grown to be more comfortable with my online presence.

During my early days, I had some trouble finding my fluidity and I feel as though I just kind of hopped around to whatever the next thought I had. It wasn't disorganized but it definitely seems like a kid distracted by candy.

I really took a lot of pride in all my fashion and thrifting posts. These experiences were the most authentic parts of me and my art. To be able to write and share my knowledge about these things feels very warming to me. I also took pride in any graphic work I had done for the different fashion brand assignments we had done. By creating graphics that matched a brand, I felt confident in my ability to work and design for those brands in the future.

Finally, I think this semester taught me how to tap deeper into my digital writing side as a PR practitioner. Often times, I've only worked as the creative director or the ideas person on PR teams. By writing this blog myself and letting my voice be the only voice, it was oddly comforting to be able to brand myself and see it through a lens of written language.

Here are 5 tips I have for PR professionals based on my experience:

• Any industry needs you. feel free to be a PR specialist for any industry from fashion to food. I promise they need you and you have nothing to lose by trying your hand at every industry until you find the one

• You are the communicator. The style, the graphics, the online presence are what you decide and create. Be proud of your work even if you don't feel like it.

• Client first. What the client wants may not be what you envisioned. You need to remind yourself that this job is transactional. They have paid for your services and you provide them that service.

• Always create or design. Never feel like you need to give up on the design side. Try your hand at different styles of graphic design. Maybe collaging and mood boarding is your strength. Maybe its taking editorial pictures and putting it in newsletters. Whatever it may be, just try.

• Always be comfortable with who you work with. I personally advocate for working for brands you associate with. If you can't defend or fight for your brand, then you shouldn't work for them. find a brand that aligns with you and your values.