Employer: Lake Erie College
Brief job description
I work in the office of Public Relations and Marketing at Lake Erie College. When I started right out of college, I was hired because of my video, photo and social media experience. My primary focus shifts year round with the different seasons of college, but I run the school's social media accounts, document events, interview and write press releases, among many other things. I was never really the type of person who likes doing just one thing, so the wide variety of responsibilities really appeals to me.
Why Mount Union?
I had been enrolled at another college, toured my older siblings' alma mater, and just didn't feel encouraged or welcomed on campus either place. Mount Union's location and the way my intended major combined so many things into one (communications, art, computer science) appealed to me. I felt like I would be able to experience all of the fields I was interested in at once rather than focusing on just one, and on a campus that just felt home-y.
Campus Experiences
I had a job on campus in the Office of Marketing that prepared me for the exact job I'm working now, introducing me to the ins and outs of communicating information with a whole campus. I took an extra class with my advisor my senior year, Audio and Video Production II, where we filmed a full movie and I was reminded how much I enjoy video production. I also did a senior art project that wasn't required, which taught me to seek out and do the things that I enjoy and am good at even if they're unconventional.
Staying Connected
Some of my best friends I talk to weekly are my fellow alumni. I wouldn't be the person I am if I hadn't met them at college. It's easier to keep each other accountable with career and life choices when we already lived through so many at college. I keep track of events on campus, especially arts events, and I'm still in contact with several of my professors.
Unique Job
I don't know for sure what kind of tasks I'll be doing from one week to the next because I work in PR, and we're always looking for the next new thing people are doing that we can share. I love getting the chance to meet and interview new people and hear the things they're passionate about. I shout out my advisor all the time because I never would have been able to go out and interview strangers if I hadn't been required to do it in so many classes.
Career Goals
I want to be able to organize and design my own projects and ideas, which I already do to some extent. I want to imagine a thing from the beginning, create it, and see it come into being as my own creation. I also always want to know that what I'm doing is helping people somehow.