UMN PRSSA

Sept 15, 2024

My start-up in PR.

PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America)  is a branch of PRSA (Public Relations Society of America), specifically dedicated to student professional development.

I joined PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) at the University of Minnesota in 2023 October and succeeded Stacy as the social media director in the chapter. At that time I didn't realize what an exciting adventure was waiting for me!

It was an October evening in 2023. With curiosity about PR, I stepped into the PRSSA club meeting with the guest speaker, Nicole Garrisson, the Senior Director and Global Employer of Brand and Marketing for the Royal Bank of Canada. When she came to the podium and told her story, from journalism to public relations, to the tension and surprise of crisis relief, I thought maybe this would be my dream career.

As I joined more meetings and the major declared, I found that PRSSA was definitely a treasure for every student who is pursuing a career in Public Relations. Guest speakers, are not only storytellers in those meetings but also valuable resources who can guide you through the industry and even provide you with opportunities, like the hiring posts and internal referral.

In February, we volunteered for the PR North held at Padilla. PR North is for students and recent grads who want to connect with PR professionals and learn more about the PR industry. There are great panelists, speaking sessions, and tons of opportunities to connect with PR professionals and organizations from around Minnesota. From the details about how to do personal elevator pitches to the hot topic of the future of PR with AI, what you would feel is being supported and being led.

Agency Tours

In addition to the meetings with guest speakers, agency tours bring us to the real world of PR literally. We got the unique chance to get an inside look at how the top PR agencies operate day-to-day, manage clients, and execute campaigns, build valuable connections with PR professionals who can offer advice, guidance, and potential future internships or job leads, and learn about the latest trends, tools, and strategies being used in the field of PR right here in the Twin Cities.

Last semester, I took part in a tour of Weber Shandwick. At that time, I was looking for a summer internship and didn't know which position was right for me. Through presentations by Weber Shandwick's team and conversations with Selam Kidane, an associate at Weber Shandwick, I learned about the responsibilities of different roles and the skills they required from the real-life cases they shared. By matching my responsibilities to my skills and passions, I have a clear idea of the direction I want to pursue and apply for jobs and a framework for my future career plans.

A trip to Chicago! From agency visits and professional development workshops to networking and career prep, the slogan of the 2024 Midwest District Conference hosted by DePaul University PRSSA was to PRess Play on your future in the communications industry! Through discussing with people who were working for PR or interested in PR, I was surprised by the countless opportunities and endless possibilities of PR career. PR is like a needle that runs through so many industries among whom you can always get your position. No matter what your major, your background, and your interests are, as long as you find the PR’s pulse and your pace, you will be on the same frequency as the industry. Besides, you can also get lectures by professors from different universities and agency tours to the local PR agencies. When you walk toward a certain building in Chicago, the crowded road, the shaped sky, and the hurried people, what you can feel are both chance and ambition. In such a big world, the broader your horizon is, the more options will rise.

The new semester is coming! Our PRSSA story is still being continued! Would you like to be the protagonist in our story and narrate your amazing chapter? Come on and let your story start by scanning the QR code and subscribing to the UMN PRSSA Newsletter!