Although a schedule of the two-day event was provided, it doesn’t nearly tell how much, much more beneficial it was for a college student, like me, interested in pursuing a career in the PR field.
I came to this event basically by myself although there were fellow Marquette students there. I did not know the ones that came before the conference and the ones that I knew did not show up. I wasn’t nervous being by myself. I was actually really comfortable. Sometimes it’s nice to be in a place where nobody knows who you are.
But before I talk about my experience at the actual event, I would like to dedicate the next several paragraphs to the girls from the University of Toledo who made me feel welcome, which is ironic because I’m a native of Chicago.
There were one junior, like me, and three freshmen. I met the one junior and two freshmen in a group we were in for Pr agency tours. The third freshman, I met later on. They were all pretty but what made the best of them was their friendliness.
After the agency tours, speed networking was next for the evening. I came by myself, purposefully putting my coat on the hanger as slow as possible trying to find a familiar face with whom I had several good chats with. Couldn’t find one. I drifted over to the appetizers, which there was hardly anymore of, and got a cup of iced tea. When I was done gathering, I stood there looking around making it obvious to the people in the room that I was alone.
Don’t worry, I found a table with girls with one empty seat. They were nice enough to let me sit with them and had a good few chats with them. They were lovely as well.
The speed networking was done. I was so ready to get back home after a long day, especially having transportation troubles way early in the morning (4am!). I saw some of those girls again from the agency tours earlier and they asked,
“It’s Camille, right?”
I said, “Yea!”
“Did you come here by yourself?”
My response, “Well, there are several Marquette students here, but I haven’t met them prior to the conference.”
“So then you’re basically by yourself.”
Embarrassed I said, “Hah, yea I guess, but that’s okay.”
“Well, did you want to have dinner with us?”
At this moment I was pretty much shocked, happy and excited. Usually, when I’m in an environment where I don’t know anybody, people don’t talk to me. You may say that well, I should take the initiative. Believe me, sometimes I do. When I work up the courage to do so and take action, some people just give a quick hello and turn away resuming their conversation to the person or group they are familiar with.
I was so happy, I gladly accepted. We ate at Rosebud, a beautiful and tasty restaurant, and we had a really awesome waiter. (Since I’m a lover of food, I have to plug this in- I ordered the pork chops from the entrée section, which was surprisingly spicy, but not too spicy, and I am one that is very picky about the level of spiciness in food. But talking about this one dish is another whole new blog. Overall, it was delish.) Everything went on perfectly, conversation and listening. Nothing embarrassing happened to me or anyone of them. I got to know them and this made me very happy.
I wish I had gotten their contacts. I figured that I would see them the second day of the conference, but I didn’t know that would be the busier day. Overall, meeting these people, who were so friendly, was very satisfying to me and reminded me that there are some nice people in the world.
Now for my experience at the conference. It was literally one of the BEST things I have experienced. The whole conference made me feel inspired, excited, and impatient to start my career as a PR practitioner. I had agency tours at Res Publica and Ogilvy- two totally different agencies but both very successful and interesting. All the speakers at the workshops that I found beneficial were Susan Howe, Joseph Tateoka, Kevin Sughy, Allie Osmar, and Roger Germann. They all gave the advice that a hopeful, optimistic, worried PR student needed.
(to be contd)
