Tips from a (soon-to-be) college graduate
In January, I set up a countdown widget on my Macbook dashboard for the MSU Communication Arts & Sciences commencement on May 7. For a long time, the countdown seemed to barely move. Now, with nine days and six hours left, graduation is coming up very quickly. With my time ending at Michigan State University, and a new chapter of my life soon beginning in Seattle, I wanted to share some of the most important lessons I have learned during my time in college.
Get involved and network early
As a freshman, I declared finance as my major because I had always heard that business majors got good jobs. For my first year, I did not join any related clubs and did not research what the major could lead to for a career. By the time I entered junior year, I had spent two years studying something that did not interest me and that I did not really know anything about. Knowing I needed a change, I started researching and happened upon the public relations specialization at MSU. The more I learned about public relations, the more I knew it was the right fit for me. I became very involved my junior and senior years in extracurricular activities and PRSSA and gained very valuable experience, but I would have doubled that experience if I had known to do my research and get involved when I first started college. It’s perfectly fine to not know what you want to do with your life as a freshman, but getting involved in various activities can help you figure it out.
Try something new
I never considered myself a student government type of person. I have always had an interest in politics, but was never involved in student senate or any similar activities. When searching for a public relations position to work during my upcoming senior year, my good friend and fellow-PRSSAer Jenni Lewis talked to me about the Residence Halls Association (RHA), the on-campus student government at Michigan State University. In short, the Director of Public Relations position with RHA involves heading media relations, concert promotions and marketing, public affairs and more, all rolled into one. Not being a “government” person, I probably never would have found this position on my own. With Jenni’s encouragement, I decided to go for it and try something new. In the end, my position with RHA has been one of the most valuable experiences of my college career, both in preparing me for working in the public relations industry and for the great friends I have made. Trying something new will always teach you something, and you will be more well-rounded because of it.
Stay balanced
When I started to get heavily involved with activities at Michigan State during my junior and senior years, I quickly learned the importance of staying balanced. Being involved in several organizations, taking a heavy class load, volunteering, spending time with friends and finding time to make some weekend trips home was a lot to juggle. This was also all on top of trying to find internships and jobs, and just finding some time to relax every once in a while. After many days of feeling completely stressed out, I began to find methods of staying balanced that worked for me. I budgeted my hours every day to ensure I would complete everything necessary on time, and getting it on paper helped to put my mind at ease when it was time to relax or enjoy time with friends. Whatever method works for you, find a way to stay balanced and organized, and you will be able to accomplish everything you need to (hopefully) without wanting to pull your hair out.
Do all the cliche activities
With only nine days left in my college career, I find myself regretting that I never did many of the cliche activities at Michigan State. I’ve never taken a tour of Beaumont Tower on a Tuesday. I’ve never pulled an all-nighter in the library with friends. I’ve never seen an MSU Theatre Department play, or bought season tickets for basketball. Until now, these things always felt less important than doing something else or spending money on something else. Now, I wish I had taken advantage of all these amazing (yet often cliche) activities that Michigan State has to offer. Take the time to enjoy these things, and you won’t regret it.
Study abroad
I never thought I would be able to study abroad, simply because of the cost. However, being at a school that has such an expansive study abroad program, I knew I had to try to make it work. I took part in a program called “Internships in London,” where I had the opportunity to live in London for 12 weeks and work as an intern at Idea Generation PR, an incredible entertainment, arts and cultural public relations agency. While the program was very expensive, I applied for numerous scholarships and received a few. These scholarships helped to curb the costs, and I still got 13 credits needed for graduation. There are ways to finance the trip, and the memories you create, friends you make and experiences you have will last a lifetime. Look into programs you might be interested in ahead of time to plan your semesters around the classes you will take abroad.
Stay positive in your job search, and aim high
Job searching can be daunting in college, whether you are looking for a summer internship or a full-time job. The jobs are definitely out there; you just need to do a lot of research and follow through with applying. Don’t ever rule out applying for a job because you don’t think you will get it– you might be surprised. Earlier this school year, I read up about the Daniel J. Edelman/PRSSA Award for the Outstanding Public Relations Student, which entails an internship in an Edelman office, as well as a monetary award. I knew that working for Edelman would be an ideal experience after graduation, but applying for a national award is intimidating, especially when you know how awesome so many PRSSA students are. When trying to decide whether or not to submit an application, I read Nick Lucido’s post on tips for applying and one part really stuck with me: just apply already. I decided to stop analyzing whether or not I thought I would be chosen, and just put together an application with confidence. I knew it would be an honor to even be considered. When I received the call letting me know I had been selected, I was both thrilled and honored. I cannot wait to start working with Edelman.
Keep looking forward, but don’t lose sight of the present
This might be the most important lesson I’ve learned in my four years. It is important to always look forward during your college career. Stay involved, get experience and always keep your eye on the prize– your degree. Most of the decisions you make in college will, in some way, affect your future after college. Each job you take will lead to the next. It is important to keep the momentum going, and to pack in as much experience as possible. In doing this, however, it can be easy to lose sight of the present. It is easy to become so focused on your education and career goals that you forget to just sit back and soak it up sometimes. Go sit on the patio at the Peanut Barrel for a couple hours with friends. Take a walk around the gorgeous campus. Take the time to appreciate the little things that you won’t have anymore after you leave. Live in the moment.
Looking back on my time at Michigan State, I am so happy with the way it turned out. I feel excited to graduate and begin my career in the “real” world, though I know I will be singing the fight song every Saturday this fall, and the Spartan head will not be removed from the back window corner of my car. I hope that sharing the lessons I have learned will help some of you that are still in college. I know I will take them with me to the next stage of my life. Go green 
