And its a wrap!

Now, at the conclusion of my internship with Shine Communications, I can finally say I feel as though I have the experience and knowledge to step into the real world of public relations with confidence. It has been a tiring semester with a work load I never thought I’d be able to get through…. But somehow I did. Through my internship I have had the opportunity to write media releases, attend press conferences, edit and compile internal newsletters, put together media clippings to display the media coverage various clients have been receiving and I’ve even written a short story for a client which is soon to be published in a book!

I’ve been exposed to the benefits good PR can have on a business and it has made me value my degree that much more. On that note, I must say, as beneficial as my degree has been for me in regards to theory, this unit has confirmed how vital it is to gain experience in the industry. I am of the opinion that you can learn all the theory in the world when it comes to most industries out there, (I would say in particular PR) but until you put that theory into practice, you essentially know a very small portion of what there is to know. I can now graduate from my Mass Communications degree, knowing exactly what I’m in for and with the knowledge and the confidence to pursue my chosen career.

Although I now know a lot more about public relations than what I knew a few months ago, I am well aware there are a range of skills and tasks I am still yet to learn. I can’t wait to step into the real world as a real public relations practitioner with a degree and all! The future is no longer scary, but exciting!

One of the main reasons I chose to study public relations is due to the broad range of roles and tasks that can be classed under ‘public relations’ practice. There is so much opportunity to lead a diverse career path, working in different industries and carrying out different forms of PR tasks. I am one of those people that just can’t sit still – I am always looking for something new and exciting to do. I was always told throughout high school that communications/ marketing/ journalism, etc would be the perfect career for me. I undertook this course of study based on how other people judged my character and capabilities and I couldn’t be happier with my decision. I have friends who are my age and still have no idea what they want to do in life and here I am approaching the conclusion of my degree, ready to enter the big, bad world! My life has finally started! After all these years of sitting in limbo, waiting for real life to really begin, it’s finally here. I couldn’t have chosen a better career for myself and can’t wait to experience everything PR has to offer.