What I Learned In PRCA 2330

This semester in Intro to PR there were many things that I learned. We studied everything from how PR differs from any other profession to the specific steps needed to complete a successful PR Campaign. The section of this class that most interested me was the history of public relations. It was very interesting to me to see how the profession I am interested in evolved to be what it is today. It is great to see how things that we see as commonplace today, at one time did not exist. Also to learn about the pioneers of the profession such as Edward Bernays and his ties to Sigmund Freud therefore connecting the entire profession to the study of the human mind.

Another thing I thoroughly enjoyed about the class was the guest speakers. I thought that it was very interesting to get the different perspectives on the different ways that public relations can be utilized.

Randomosity at it’s finest!

So when I heard that this weeks blog topic was an open blog and I could write about whatever I wanted to I was ecstatic. Ok maybe ecstatic is an overstatement but i was pretty happy about it. Not to be locked in to writing about a topic that I don’t really care about was amazing. Then when I sat down to think about what I would write about I drew a complete blank. My first thought was to write about TOMS Shoes because I have been really involved with them lately, but I already have an entire blog dedicated to them so I thought maybe not. Now as I sit here with no inspiration what so ever I look to my right and what do I see? My Starbucks cup. Hhhmmmm Starbucks, well that’s as interesting a topic as any I guess.

The first time I every had a Starbucks coffee I was 16 years old. I was in California working a summer job at the Credit Bureau of Lancaster. The office was all women and every day they would make a Starbucks run. I would never get anything because I didn’t know what to get. I was a little intimidated with their vast selection and didn’t have a clue what to get. Then one day one of my office mates told me that I should try a caramel machiato. I thought to myself “Self, this sounds like a good idea, I think you should go for it.” and so I did.

With that first sip of caramel awesomeness I was hooked, I believe I ordered one every day for the rest of that summer. I just couldn’t get enough. I don’t even want to think about how many calories and fat grams I ingested from those things. But I didn’t care. I like what I tasted and I wanted more.

Once I returned home from the summer my Starbucks fascination eventually wore off. I would get a drink if I happened to be near a Starbucks but I didn’t make a conscious effort to go out and get one on a regular basis. Then, one day i was at my local mall and I thought “Hey why don’t I try something new from Starbucks.” And so begins my obsession with Starbucks white chocolate mocha. The best thing I have ever tasted. If it were possible to marry a coffee beverage, this would be the one.

Well that’s the end of my little Starbucks drama so far. I hope you were at least slightly entertained.

Lights! Camera! ACTION!

If music is my first love in life, then movies are my second. I love movies so much. I have been going to the movies with my family since I was born and they never censored the movies we went to so I got to see all the good stuff. Don’t get me wrong we went to see The Lion King and The Little Mermaid but if they wanted to go see an adult movie, they never left me at home to do so. In my room right now I have a CD case filled with about 400 DVDs (none of them bootleg) that’s how much I love movies. Lately, I have found that I am more into love stories, but I also like comedy, and action, and horror movies too. I think my favorite kinds of movies are suspense. I love a movie that will keep you guessing until the very end. The last movie I saw was The Last Song and it was such a disappointment. I had been really looking forward to seeing this movie and it was not very good. I’ve heard that the book is so much better so I’m beginning to read that now.

Peace, Love, and MUSIC!

I love music! It is pretty much the highlight of my life. I love experiencing different types of music and learning new artist. I like pretty much every genre of music…. and when I say every genre, I mean EVERY genre. I listen to anything from pop to country, to rock, to classical, orchestra, and music that was popular in the 60′s. I am open to any kind of music and I love hearing things I’ve never heard before. If I had to pick a person to be my favorite artist I honestly could not answer that question. I have many favorite artist, one that is on my mind at the moment is Usher because he just came out with a new album.  Throughout his entire career every album he had made has been batter than the one before…. that was until his last album “Here I Stand” This album was a huge disappointment to me and many others. I think there were maybe 2 songs that I liked on the album. I am hoping that he will redeem himself with this album but  that has yet to be determined……

Reality TV

Personally, I am not a huge fan of reality TV. There are some shows that are good, but for the most part they are downright ridiculous. When I was in high school, I loved reality TV. It was pretty much all I would watch. I just loved the drama of it all. Im sure I lost plenty of brain cells during those days. Then the shows just got more and more out of control and started to seem more and more face and I just couldn’t take it anymore.

If I had to pick a reality show to say that I watch, I guess it would be MTV’s 16 and Pregnant and True Life. Those are the shows that I think are the closest to reality and they don’t get too crazy. I like True Life because it takes you into the lives of people that you would have never known anything about if you didn’t watch the show. They explore everything from addiction, to relationships, to illnesses, to college life. Its a show that is definitely directed at college aged students and I don’t feel like I am getting dumber when I watch it so that’s a good thing.

Spring Break 2010

This spring break was an exciting one for me. It was the first spring break of my college career that I did not just go home and visit family and let me tell you….. I will never go home for another spring break again!

This year, me and four of my friends went to Orlando for the week. We stayed in a very nice Resort and spent tho whole week hanging at the pool and doing whatever we felt like doing.

One day we would go to the clubs, then shopping the next, then to the beach the next. I had allot of fun and cant wait to do it again.

The Olympic Games

Unfortunately, I did not watch any of the winter Olympics this year so I cannot comment on them. However, one Olympics that I can comment on is the 1996 summer Olympics that was held in Atlanta. Because I am from Atlanta I had the privilege of being able to attend some of the games in this Olympics. I was seven years old at the time and as uninterested in sports as I am now, therefore the main thing that I remember is competing with my older cousin to see who could collect the most and the best Olympic pins. They were giving them out everywhere and by the end on the games, together we collected around 150 pins that neither of us would ever use or wear.

Of couse I would like to say that I won the competetion for the best pins but im sure if you were to ask my cousin he would say the same. I’m not sure who won, but I am sure that we had an amazing time going around collecting them and shared some great memories that continue to last.

Hobbies and Pastimes!!

I have many hobbies and pastimes. The ones that I participate in the most usually include being with friends and doing crazy, irrational things. A hobby I have that is more specific is that I have taken on the initiative to teach myself Italian, and I see that as both an activity and a hobby.  Last year, I participated in a study abroad program in Montepulciano, Italy. For three months I lived in Tuscany and had the amazing opportunity to immerse myself in everything Italian. While there, I fell in love with the people, the culture, and the language. Unfortunately, my school does not offer Italian classes, so this year I have decided to learn on my own. I spend a little time each day soaking up the Italian language in hopes that one day I will be able to put it to good use on a return trip to the country that stole my heart. To help me learn the language, I have made many adjustments including changing the language on my iPhone, iPod, and Facebook page to Italian.

When I grow up…….

I have many plans for my future. I spend a good chunk of my time dreaming and making plans for where I want my life to go. I plan to finish my undergraduate degree by may 2011. Then after graduation I will go backpacking through Europe with the money that ive been saving for the past three years. When I return I will move to Washington state to go to Grad school. Right now the plan is to get a masters in project management but that is still debatable. After I finish my grad degree, I want to move to another country. Probably somewhere like England or Ireland. Im learning Italian now so if im really fluent by that time I may consider Italy too. By this time I should be about 25 years old and thats where my life plans end. For now.

I like to make plans to give myself something to work towards and look forward too in life. However my plans are changing all the time and I think that’s a good thing. I don’t want to get too stuck on one set of plans that I cant make changes when I decide I want something else in life. Also sometimes plans don’t go the way they are supposed to. That’s ok too. As long as you learn from the experience and keep making new plans. I think that anything can be accomplished if you have a plan and never give up on it.

And the award goes to…….

The most important people in my life are my parents. I get so much from them on a daily basis and I am not sure what I would do or who I would be without them in my life. Don’t get me wrong, we do not have a perfect relationship, and we definitely have our disagreements but no matter what happens I know that my parents love and support and always have my best interest at heart.

When I was in high school, I was the typical teenager, and couldn’t wait to get away from my parents and out from under their watchful eyes. But after being in college for 3 years I have learned that I was probably being really stupid all those years and that for the most part they were right about everything. Now that I am growing up a little I am aware of all that they do for me and just how much they must love me.