Note: This article is published chronologically before the trip for PRSSANC for class purposes for the trip, however this was written after the trip.
 |
| Our Advisor, Professor Stephen Whyte is hands down, amazing. Him and current, and former UVU PRSSA students have really helped shape and hone our chapter to what it is today. (I know he looks like a student, but he's on the far right of the first row.) |
Utah Valley University PRSSA has a unique way that we prepare for the trip that truly sets us apart from other students. We believe we get out of the conference, what we put into it. I don't know if this is classified information or not, so I might be required to remove this blog within the next 24 hours, so take notes!
This is a long post because there is a lot of work that goes into our preparations, but if you skim over all of it, I promise it will inspire you.
The Sections in the blog include the following:
- The Power of Grants
- Becoming Friends Before the Trip
- Research, Research, Research
- How Our Extensive Crazy Research Helped Me
- Further Preparation: Reaching Out to Others Professionals & Students Via Social Media
- The Remaining Nine Yards of Preparing for the Conference
- Conclusion
The Power of Grants
Unlike other universities and chapters who have to bust their tails fundraising, Utah Valley University actually receives a grant to fund students from the chapter to attend the conference. When I applied for the trip, I actually wasn't expecting to be picked because it was a rigorous process. We had to submit a resume, letter of intent of why we should be selected, and include our transcripts. Since we are receiving a grant from the university to fund a fair number of students attending, there is a course offered for the students attending so they can prepare for the trip, get to know one another better, and receive course credit.Becoming Friends Before the Trip
I did not know any of the students on a personal level before taking the class for the trip. Our class met four times before the trip to prepare, discuss, share of our preparations, and do team building exercises. Upon the first class, I was nervous and intimidated by the group on students because I did not know anyone. After the trip, I feel like I reach out to anyone for their help or advice.
Click here to see my post about students who attended the conference, you can network or reach out to any of these students and they will be just as amazingly kind to you as they were to me.
Research, Research, Research
As trip attendees, there is a lot of preparation we must do for the conference. A large portion of this is RESEARCH. We are required to write research that covers information about the following:- Each presenter/speaker/universities presenting (there's over 60 presenters, this is anything but simple work)
- Each participating company/exhibitor (over 25 exhibitors)
- Each session (over 30 sessions available)
We are not allowed to copy and paste information and we can structure this research to whatever we feel is most helpful for us. For me, my research was in alphabetical order and highlighted different information about presenters and exhibitors. We were also supposed to add three questions we were to ask them if we had the chance to talk to them. (I have these in my person notes so this is not included in the example)
Here's a sample of what my research looked like. (note: these are two presenters, we did this for everyone of the speakers!)
Adam Dvorin & Dr. Bey-Ling Sha
Adam Dvorin:
In regards to Adam Dvorin, I did not attend his media relations panel. However, I had learned a lot about him and still wanted to meet up with him. I contacted him via-Twitter before the conference, and while at the conference he had commented on a a recap blog I had posted. I tweeted back to him and this is how it played out.
Not only were Adam and I able to meet up at the PRSAIC Gala, but we were able to chat and have a conversation and genuinely get to know each other, which is what this business is all about--RELATIONSHIPS! Since the conference, Adam and I have stayed in touch with each other. He has been an encouraging, inspiring mentor and I am so grateful I was able to meet him. Also, since I had to "creep" him out for our research, I was able to really have a conversation with him because I understood a good amount of some of his well known work and accomplishments.
Dr. Bey-Ling Sha:
I actually ran into Dr. Sha while I was leaving the elevator in our hotel. I was a bit starstruck because after studying about Dr. Sha, how could someone not be intimidated by her level of expertise? I immediately swallowed my dry mouth and tried to get the courage to speak to her. Then, I went for it!
"Dr. Sha, I'm Emily Nicoline--It's a pleasure to meet you," I stuck out my hand to shake hers. We happened to be walking the same way to the conference. Since I had researched information about her, I was able to not only recognize her, but have a conversation with her. I told her that I appreciate the work that she had done to help support equal pay for women in the PR industry and that I was from Utah and that problem was especially bad there. We were able to then talk about Utah and how she actually is familiar with Salt Lake because of an immediate family member. I unfortunately was unable to attend her session as well due to another conflict, however I was so grateful to be able to meet her and talk to her one on one. Although, I was not able to get to know her as well as I would like we still chat here and then on twitter. She is great at offering advice and insight! Look up some of her work, you will not be disappointed!
Further Preparation: Reaching Out to Others Professionals & Students Via Social Media
- Presenters/Exhibitors/PRSSA Chapters
- PRSSA Top Dog Students (on national committees/conference committees)
- PRSSA Students from Across the Nation
I tried to reach out to all of the speakers well in advance before the conference. I also used social media to network and make friends with other PRSSA Students before attending the conference. I had good results, I was able to have a better understanding of the "PRSSA Top Dog Students," (as I call them). I made a list of them on Tweetdeck so I could follow their posts and engage with them to help build a relationship with them. I also tried to compile a list of students going to the conference, I just regret not having enough time to reach out to them.
The best contact, friend and colleague I made from doing this by far, was Jason Mollica. I reached out to him before the conference and we were able to build a quick connection based upon our some of our life experiences. Him and I tweeted each other regularly and I continually would read his blog posts and watch his YouTube channels.
Within hours of the conference kicking off, we immediately met up and he was kind enough to take the time to give me advice on a job proposal I was working on. He was very personable and made me so happy that I had taken the time to connect with him.
Him and I stayed in touch after meeting, and scheduled another meeting for him to have with a small group of students from our chapters. He was kind and met with us, he offered us advice and listened to our questions and concerns. Since meeting with him, our chapter has grown very fond of Jason. A large group of us went to his session, CEO of You and have stayed in touch with him since the conference.
Jason was inspiring, knowledgeable, and I am 100% full of gratitude to have met him.
Elizabeth and I connected via Twitter due to our passions. I sent out a tweet asking if there was anyone at conference that was passionate about women's advocacy groups, since I'm trying to launch a non-profit women's advocacy group after graduation. She introduced herself to me at the Warner Bros. Entertainment PR class and I was beyond amazed with her skills.
It was beyond invigorating to meet and become friends with a strong go-getter in Public Relations. Elizabeth has a strong amount of PR experiences, amazing internships, knowledgeable insight, strong work ethics, and shared a passion for women's advocacy. We were able to share our accomplishments, goals, and dreams with each other. Her and I are still in touch, I enjoy seeing her updates and what she is up to!
The Remaining Nine Yards of Preparing for the Conference
Career Services
We are recommended to meet with careers services to work on our pitches, resumes, business cards, etc. I met with Sue Stephenson, she was amazing. We met several times before me leaving for the conference and really worked on my Linkedin Profile.
It was integral that we read the newspaper Monday through Friday. It was required. We were supposed to read the business and national sections of the paper. This was so we would know what was going on to understand and communicate with others better throughout the conference.
Resumes & Business Cards
We were required to have resumes and business cards prepared for the conference. Here is how my business card turned out, I spent too much time on it!
Blogging/Social Media
We are required to blog six times prior to the trip, daily blog posts each day during the trip, and three posts after the trip. During each day of the trip we were required to Tweet at least five times p/day, and post on our Facebook once p/day.
Conclusion
Key Takeaways to Remember- We applied, were selected for grants, and had to participate in a class for the conference.
- We had a set list of requirements of extensive work we had to do, FOR A GRADE.
- With preparing for the conference through the class it helped us get the most of our trip.
Click here to see what the 2013 Chapter of the Year is required to do after their trip is completed.
See the presentation I had to present to Communication students at our university about conference by clicking here.
See the presentation I had to present to Communication students at our university about conference by clicking here.
0 comments:
Post a Comment