By Carson Howard
When I graduated high school in 2020 I was so nervous about starting college in a new town with a bunch of strangers. I had no idea what I wanted to study, or how I was going to make friends during a pandemic. It wasn’t until my sophomore year that I decided to major in public relations, which is easily one of the best decisions I have ever made.
If I would have picked a different major I wouldn’t have met some of my best friends or been able to take advantage of so many amazing opportunities. Being a public relations major at Georgia Southern has been such a huge blessing. Not only do we get to go to class in the cutest little building on Sweetheart Circle but we also have endless opportunities for students to learn and grow in their capabilities.
Public relations has given me the opportunity to complete two internships (almost three), serve as the PRSSA firm director, and grow in my leadership skills. There are so many opportunities and resources that are available for PR students, such as PRSSA, student internships, the PR Advisory Board and so many more.
The PR Advisory Board also supports the LEAP Certification here at Georgia Southern, this certification is specifically for PR students and allows us to stand out amongst peers or other recent graduates in the field. The LEAP Certification is something I am still working towards and so far it has allowed me to further my leadership skills, gain practical experience, as well as improve academically and professionally.
In the last three years I have grown as a student, a writer, and a leader all because of the opportunities and resources available to me as well as being able to learn from knowledgeable professors and professionals. There are so many opportunities available for students to learn, lead, grow and make connections, but it is so important to take advantage of them. If you want to make more friends in PR, join PRSSA. If you want to expand your skills and build your resume, start looking into internships. If you want to build meaningful connections with professionals attend a PR Advisory Board meeting!
The possibilities are endless when you're a PR major at Georgia Southern!