Lifestyle Change

Today, I made a very big decision in my life and for my career. After receiving a job offer from a PR agency here in Portland, I decided that I would take the position. Two weeks from today, I will be at a new office, with new people, working on new projects and learning all that I can.

I am an adventurous person when it comes to trying new things, but somehow, this time around, I feel nervous as this is the beginning of my career. I am have completed college and now I am ending my life as an intern and beginning as a "real" employee.

Sometimes, I feel as though college didn't prepare me for all the obstacles I would face in the career world. This is the same feeling I have that high school didn't prepare me at all for college. How was I to tell my boss, I was offered a position? How do I put in two-weeks notice? It all seemed foreign.

I am so excited to be a part of a wonderful agency here in town, and move on from my "student" and "intern" titles. However, sometime being the new kid, isn't always so fun. I feel sad to be leaving a place where I was able to meet so many interesting and intelligent people, including my manager, whom I look up to and admire, but I also feel excitement to take on new and different things.

I am so hopeful that this opportunity will be a great learning experience. I hope that I will become an asset to the team and before long, I will be in similar shoes to those whom I look up to.

Bottom line?

I am sad, nervous, excited, and pumped.

I will be blogging throughout this transition, so stay tuned.

Differentiation?

Since joining the fabulous school of journalism at the University of Oregon I have heard, like a broken record, the advice that I should learn my practice well and differentiate myself from my peers.

Today, while pondering a while, I asked myself 'well aren't I different from others, naturally?' I am my own person, I have my own thoughts and processes, I enjoy certain things, I laugh at things that others do not, and I have a different take on things than most people.

In class we are all taught the same processes and tactics to handle certain situations, so, in that sense, I am very much the same aren't I? How can I learn something differently than it is taught?

Are we to sell our personalities? If so, are we to change our personalities if we recognize how someone else's personality is favored? I haven't quite figured it out but if it is about selling ourselves, then here is some insight about what makes me different.

I am a quilt. "A quilt is distinguishable from types of blankets because it is pieced together with several pieces of cloth." I am a person who is pieced together by all my knowledge and experiences. I have chosen in life to experience many different things. From traveling to trying out different professions I have been blessed to acquire a wide variety of skills. I have worked on a ranch and at a well-known newspaper. I am not afraid to work hard and get dirty but I know how to dress professionally. I have learned how to work in retail and do bookkeeping. I have learned how to work with clients and talk to people in a professional manner. I know how to get all the facts and be thorough. I can be a leader and a follower. I have traveled the world and learned about many cultures and how it is important to be sensitive to others beliefs and know where they are coming from. It is important to represent yourself well but let your freak flag fly, after all that’s what makes humans unique.

I am confident in my skills as public relations professional not because I think I am amazing but because of my ability to learn, adapt and understand situations. In my opinion, being the best means having a broad background but mostly being able to figure out a situation and offer the best advice and services. No one is an expert at anything, life constantly evolves and we must go along for the ride.