Not only do I often get the question, “What is public relations,” when I tell someone my major, but I also get asked, “Why do you want to be in public relations?” I find myself having to answer this question more and more often; whether that is for friends, family, or employers during job interviews.
Obviously, I know why I love public relations and why it is something that I want to do for the rest of my life; however, it is difficult to put into words and explain to people what I like about it. I have to be prepared to give a straightforward answer now that I am interviewing for jobs. I cannot answer potential employer’s question with, “Well I don’t really know, it just seems interesting,” which was what I told my mom when I was changing majors.
Over the past few years, as I have learned about and taken part in real public relations, I have finally found my answer.
In the fall of 2016, I stepped on campus at Anderson University having absolutely no idea what was in store for me. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to be when I “grew up,” but I had some ideas. None of which involved communications. I really thought I would do something with math and science, like engineering.
I had a fear of speaking in front of people, letting peers read any of my writing, and communicating in general. Within my first semester at college, I grew out of my shell more than I ever thought possible, and I changed to a major that excited me and terrified me at the same time: public relations.
Now, nearly three years later, I have discovered that I have a passion for storytelling. I have found joy in building relationships and trust and understanding with others. I also find defining and communicating a brand and what a company stands for to be an extremely fascinating and exciting process. I get to do all of these things within PR.
If you asked me three years ago at my high school graduation, “What are you going to do after high school?” I wouldn’t have given an answer. Now I get to say with 100 percent certainty that I am going to be a public relations professional, and I am going to be good at it!
I am so thankful that I have grown and discovered my passion for communications at AU.
Kylie Osborne is a senior from Portland, Indiana, majoring in public relations. Osborne is an associate with Fifth Street Communications®, a student-run public relations agency at Anderson University.
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