Author: lucillewalsh17

The Power of Changing Your Mind: A Conversation with Georgia McKee

by The Belmont Bateman Team

From a fast-growing Christian university in the heart of Nashville, TN, Georgia McKee sets the standard for how students can use their voices to spark change and become something so much bigger than themselves. Hailing from Frisco, TX, McKee is a Faith and Social Justice major at Belmont University. She committed to Belmont in 2014 as a catcher for the university’s softball team and has been an influential member of the student community since stepping foot on campus in the fall of 2017.  

To fully understand how McKee models civil discourse for her peers, it is important to define civil discourse first. Civil discourse is the act of engaging in a respectful, honest, and productive conversation that involves equal parts of listening and talking. By no means does civil discourse mean always agreeing with someone else. It is about finding a way to respect and accept different opinions. While McKee was never asked to provide her own definition of civil discourse, she did define social justice. In McKee’s case, many would consider her more of a social justice activist, however, she utilizes civil discourse in her social justice activities. According to McKee, social justice is “the process of holing accountability to systems and people for the greater good of human flourishing.” Social Justice and civil discourse go hand in hand. It is impossible to achieve successful social justice activism without meaningful civil discourse. 

As soon as Belmont University announced it would be hosting the final 2020 Presidential Debate, McKee applied to be part of the Student Engagement team. Despite the student body’s fears concerning the debate due to rising political tensions associated with the 2020 election, McKee saw this as an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than herself. “I see politics as an opportunity for justice and love,” said McKee. “It is a very powerful part of our society and so we need people to engage with it in ways that are constructive and full of love and really thoughtful.” For 11 months, McKee worked with other Belmont students to create programs to engage students with the debate and make them excited. Her work on the team focused on engaging students in discussing the relationship between religion and politics, voting, and engaging in politics and party while still being a religious person. “Without discussion and without proper knowledge of what is going on in the world and what the person who lives next to you thinks, we’re never going to get anywhere.” 

(McKee speaking at the Black Lives Matter protest in Frisco, TX. Photo courtesy of Georgia McKee)

In the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement, McKee made Dallas headlines in June, 2020, when she organized a massive march through her hometown. To stand in solidarity with the black community, so she planned to just stand on the side of a road by herself. “I thought maybe some of my high school friends or anyone would want to join me, so I threw something up on social media and it caught wildfire,” she says of the march. “Within 24 hours, 5000 people showed up and we shut down the largest street in our hometown.” Sharon Grisby with the North Dallas News reported, “I’ve watched a lot of powerful local responses to the heinous tragedy, but the one that’s most stuck with me was the 2,000-strong — and by some estimates much larger — swarm of Frisco residents, including Mayor Jeff Cheney and Police Chief David Shilson, marching Monday along Eldorado Parkway.” The Frisco March marked an important place in the Black Lives Matter Movement because a town largely known for living in a white, suburban bubble shattered its own stereotype and came together to stand in solidarity with marginalized communities.

Following her success in Frisco, McKee was asked to speak at two collegiate athletic panels about student social justice. The first panel, College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), asked McKee to speak regarding student-athlete activism. This year, McKee was asked to discuss student-athlete activism for a second time at the NCAA organization-wide conference where she shared what student-athlete activists need from athlete administrations to encourage peers to use their voices for subjects that matter to them and their culture. Student-athletes are in a special position in the collegiate world because they have a platform that other students may not have. “In athletics, a lot of times our names are plastered everywhere and our stats are plastered everywhere. It’s all about our athletic ability and our name,” McKee said. “How can we use that platform for the greater good of something far beyond athletics?”

No matter what she was talking about, there were two omnipresent themes in everything McKee said: Intention and willingness to change your mind. When receiving media attention for her efforts in Frisco, McKee said, “I never planned for that protest to be big, I never wanted to be interviewed by newspapers and news channels. I’ve had to take a lot of steps back in the past year of really recognizing my intentions and recognizing how I’m going about conversations with my peers and my actions regarding social justice.” She revealed how she’s struggled with navigating her activism as a young, white woman and how she really had to evaluate why she believed what she did and her motivations to take action, which is what brought her to the decision that she had to be willing to change her mind. She had to be willing to learn. “The past four years of my college experience, I have found that being willing to change my mind is very important to me. I think that’s been the biggest theme during my past four years at Belmont…If we aren’t willing to change our mind, if we aren’t willing to have conversations with people, we’re going to be stuck in this gridlock of anger and hate.”

In her final comments, she offers advice to students entering the professional world. “It’s great to share words with each other, I love words, I think they’re really powerful…but people our age need to listen more. We need to reevaluate our intentions, listen to people who do not think like us even if it makes us angry. Listen to people’s intentions, ask questions. Don’t just make assumptions. Before we put labels on people, ask them questions about why do you think this, what lead you to believe what you believe now to be true? We will be better employees, we will be better citizens and we will be better neighbors.”

McKee will graduate from Belmont this April. She plans to continue her education with a Master’s in Divinity studying the intersection between religion and politics in America.

For more information on the importance of civility, please visit our website to learn more about our campaign.

Also, be sure to check us out on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

8 Ways to Disagree with Your Loved Ones

by The Belmont Bateman Team

These days, the world seems more polarized than ever. It’s hard to say anything without angering someone. Heated conversations exist around every corner, and most people are walking on eggshells trying not to prompt a debate from the opposing team. Sometimes, trying to avoid those conversations  carries over into your home life. It has become even more common that children attempt to break the mold of their parents’ more traditional values. This dynamic can create a great amount of tension between you and your loved ones – making an environment awkward and, sometimes even, hostile.

This is a dilemma we encounter every Thanksgiving. The classic overly, dramatic argument with your uncle or grandma when you’re supposed to be giving thanks. Professionals refer to this type of disagreement as “false-consensus bias” or believing that everyone thinks the same way as us. When confronted with an opposing belief, it’s hard for our brains to comprehend that these family members would not automatically take our side. Their agreement seems so obvious to us. It’s so common that each year around the holidays there now exists a social media trend revolving around users joking about their intent to purposely “ruin” dinner. However, studies show that this abrasive methodology is not the recipe for success. Rather, being more open-minded to what others think and believe results in others being more likely to listen to your main topic points.

So next time you encounter an awkward or controversial topic at dinner, try these tips:

1. Appreciate the Value of Opposing Views

Acknowledge that individual differences can expand our worldview. This appreciation can help us better understand why things happen a certain way and how people react and operate in different situations. Having a diverse perspective also can help you grow as a person and it can even help strengthen your argument.

2. Remain Calm

Recognize that not everyone is well-versed in the practice of civil discourse. It’s important to understand that some individuals might become angry or even hostile during exchanges of ideas. They may not know how to have civil conversations involving differing views. One way to teach them how to better exchange thoughts is by keeping your cool. Don’t stoop to their level.

3. It’s Not Personal

Don’t attack the person. Don’t make the other individual feel inferior because his or her opinion is different than yours. Only rebuttals surrounding key points on a given topic should be expressed. There is no need for personal attacks. It will only make the other more angry and more defensive.

4. Don’t Just Hear Them…Listen to Them

Have an open mind. This requires you to make a concerted effort to understand the other’s point of view. Also, don’t plot what you’re going to say next. Rather, take time to listen to shared opposing views. The individual could be making some insightful points.

5. Find Your Middle Ground

Take time to find a middle ground. This adds respect to the conversation. Something as simple as stating that both parties just want everyone to be happy allows all involved to be seen as equals.

6. Don’t Assume

Seek to understand why the other person believes what he or she believes. Don’t just assume you know why that individual has taken that particular stance.

7. You Can Say ‘No’

Understand that civil discourse is difficult. Sometimes the other person can offend you or make you angry even while practicing these given tips. It’s okay to walk away peacefully. It doesn’t mean that anyone has “won.” It just indicates that you need some space to calm down so that the conversation, if had again, can be more calm and more constructive.

8. Remember Why You Love Each Other

Don’t ruin your valuable relationship over an opinion. At the end of the day, that’s all this is – your opinion. Be open with the other person, and, when the conversation is done, go do something together. Don’t leave on a tense-filled note that could make someone simmer in his or her thoughts. Instead, verbalize that you love each other despite your differences. That’s all that truly matters.

For more information on the importance of civility, please visit our website to learn more about our campaign.

Also, be sure to check us out on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Making the Best out of a Bad Situation: Advancing Your Career During COVID

by Caroline Vaught

The coronavirus made 2020 a rough year for advancement. I know we’re all tired of hearing about it at this point, but I think it’s easy to forget how much this really affected students that are still in college. You hear a lot about what graduates had to do, but I lost a really big internship last summer that would have done a lot for my future in book publishing all because of the pandemic.

It’s easy to focus on the negative, but sometimes you have to take what is available to you and use it to the best of your ability. On a whim, my roommate decided to join Fiverr.com to try and get a few extra dollars here and there. In reality, it wouldn’t hurt anything, so I signed up too. Starting a freelance business can be disappointing. After all, you start with no reviews, no credibility, and no idea what to do first. All it takes is one buyer to have faith in you to get things rolling. Will it be exactly what you want? No, my first client was for a dating book that was priced over $50 for a small paperback. Taking the skills from my classes, I managed to pull together a small list of 30 people that I thought would be interested in advertising or reviewing her book. I composed emails and send messages to every single person. Then, silence. It took days to get two responses and only one of them panned out. It was humiliating and I felt like I looked like I didn’t know what I was doing. That was my first 5-star rating and the start of a freelancing career I couldn’t even begin to wrap my head around.

Soon, I was getting several clients a week. Each client was different, making me think differently for each book genre and finding the perfect audience. We learn in class that the media can be particularly hard to work with, but I have found that to be somewhat false. Not once has someone in the media told me to leave them alone, but I have had several clients ask I’m actually trying to help them. The main thing people do not understand about PR is that it requires patience, connections and faith. Clients would ask for me to get them connected to Netflix, celebrities and large groups of people that I had no chance of reaching out to.

After a while, you reach a rhythm. Remind your clients that you are a freelancer and not a giant PR firm, so you won’t have the kind of connections they might be hoping for. I tell all my clients that I can’t guarantee any results. No one wants to hear that, but PR is subjective, especially when it comes to products like books. As self-published authors, they don’t have the name of a big publishing company behind them, they don’t have a marketing department, I’m a college student and I’m doing my best. People that failed to understand wouldn’t even consider my services anymore, but all of my clients were grateful that I at least tried. I put forth effort for something they couldn’t do for themselves and no one else was willing to.

What started as a whim has morphed into a part-time job with a steady income. Teachers always tell their students to try freelancing, but how many of us scoff or simply think it won’t work? It’s possible to do these things, to build a portfolio from your home and to do some trial and error before breaking into the industry. I get a new order from a new client and a 5-star rating almost every day. It didn’t happen overnight. With some determination, some faith and planning, the potential for freelancing is right at our fingertips. It is up to us if we decide to reach out or let it fly away.

Caroline Vaught is a publishing major with a minor in PR at Belmont University. When she isn’t doing work for her internship with Jones Literary or in class, she spends her time freelancing as a book editor and a publicist for self-published and independent authors. Since she started freelancing in the summer of 2020, she has obtained over 50 5-star reviews.

How to: Start Engaging in Civil Discourse

by The Belmont Bateman Team

When You’re Not Sure Where to Start…

With social issues being the center of attention these days in the media, the word ‘civil discourse’ seems to be coming up in conversation more than before. We’re constantly hearing that listening and understanding are the best ways to implement civil discourse, but that sometimes feels too broad. Maybe you’re feeling that you have already been implementing civil discourse in your daily life, maybe you’re unsure if how you’ve been living is a representation of civil discourse and maybe you aren’t even sure what civil discourse really means.

Wherever you are in your journey to civility, these beginner steps to implementing civility in your daily life can be used to better understand and listen to one another. Why is it important? We’re human beings that live in a world that’s designed to communicate and be in community with other human beings. Unfortunately, or fortunately (glass-half-full perspective), not all of us, rarely any two of us will agree on every issue, topic, or situation that occurs in this lifetime. Every once in a while, you will encounter another human being who disagrees with you and happens to be your co-worker. With civil discourse as a priority in daily life, we are able to better live and work together if we can understand each other and accept that there are different opinions.

Below, is not everything, but are some ideas and tips to begin conversations and practices for civil discourse:

  1. Create space for civil dialogue:

The first step to engaging in civil discourse is creating an accepting and welcoming space for conversation. Sometimes the best way to start implementing civil discourse is to just ensure that the conversations you have are not closing off differing opinions. Regardless of your belief, someone is going to disagree with you, and the more you can accept this truth, the easier it will be to approach the inevitable conversations.

  1. Set Boundaries

When you start to open up this kind of conversation, it’s important that you are still aware of your personal mental, and emotional boundaries. If there’s a specific issue or topic that you don’t feel like you can discuss without feeling anxious or overly uncomfortable, then let that be known. The conversation should be respectful of all individuals involved meaning boundaries should be a priority throughout the conversation. Whether that be the amount of time spent engaged in a conversation, specific issues that cause anxiety or just the person you talk to, give yourself grace.

  1. Focus on the issue and stay relevant

Miscommunication is real and can quickly cause a turn in the civility of a conversation. Sometimes it can be easy to have a conversation about one issue spiral into another. While this is entirely acceptable and normal, it’s essential that all individuals in the conversation are on the same page so that miscommunication on the topic can be prevented. The more each individual keeps their evidence, comments and conversation to the topic at hand, the easier it will be to have productive conversations and be a successful advocate.

  1. Listen well to one another

While this tip goes without saying most times, I think that listening when trying to engage in civil discourse has a new meaning. Listening first off means that you’re giving each individual the space to talk and hear them out. However, it also means approaching the conversation with an open mind and really trying to listen and understand what the other person has to say. At the end of the conversation, if you don’t believe their point of view, then that’s ok, but the important thing is that you tried to understand where they were coming from. Chances are they are just as passionate about the issue as you are if they’re willing to have a conversation.

  1. Be honest

Civil discourse doesn’t mean censoring or downplaying your beliefs because you want to avoid conflict. It’s in fact the opposite. Be honest with your ideas and share them when the situation is appropriate and the person with whom you’re sharing wants to hear them. You have the right to your own ideas, beliefs and opinions, so be honest with both yourself and others. However, let the tone in your honesty be one that is not arrogant or condescending, but respectful.

  1. Be mindful of your mental health

If civil discourse were easy, then everyone would be implementing it and this blog post would be unnecessary. However, we are human and our emotions, passions and beliefs sometimes take over the way we approach a conversation. With that being said, your mental health and the amount of these challenging conversations you can take are important to be aware of. Sometimes these conversations can lead to increased anxiety if not approached civilly on both ends. Don’t push yourself past your limit and give yourself grace.

For more information on the importance of civility, please visit our website to learn more about our campaign.

Also, be sure to check us out on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

How To: Be a Better Listener

by The Belmont Bateman Team

Imagine this: You’re having a conversation with your best friend about something that is really important to you. She keeps asking you to repeat yourself. You can tell by her body language that she’s paying more attention to her phone than she is to you. You become increasingly upset and begin to be short with her. Your friend becomes defensive and you become increasingly argumentative. The conversation turns sour and you leave it with hurt feelings. 

This is a situation that everyone has experienced with a best friend, family member, or significant other. Zoning out during a discussion fosters poor civil discourse. By zoning out, you are showing the other person that you are not interested in hearing their side of the conversation. Civility is a two-way street, and being a good listener is crucial to engaging in effective civil discourse. Here are 5 tips for anyone looking to become a better listener: 

1. Ask More Questions 

One of the easiest ways to let someone know you are interested in what they are saying is to ask questions. This may seem simple, but it shows active engagement and empathy towards the other person. In addition, asking questions can help clarify parts of the conversation that you may not understand. This clarification can lead to more effective discussions later on, as there will be less prior misunderstandings. 

2. Listen as Much as You Talk 

To foster healthy civil discourse, your listening-to-talking ratio should be 50/50. No conversation should be one-sided. Check-in with yourself and see if you have a tendency to be more direct and overpowering in a conversation or if you fall more on the quiet and passive end of the spectrum. By engaging in self-reflection, you will be able tp pivot your conversation style to achieve a 50/50 listening-to-talking ratio. 

3. Don’t Interrupt 

When a great point enters your head, it can be tempting to say it immediately. However, it is important to be respectful of the other person. Wait until they have finished sharing their point before you speak. Not only that but be certain to listen to their point and consider it fully before jumping back into the conversation. 

4. Make Eye Contact 

Avoiding distractions is key to engaging in a civil discussion. Civil discourse requires respect, and that means being fully present during a conversation. One of the best ways to avoid distractions is to maintain eye contact. Fight the constant urge to look at your phone, check out your surroundings, or roll your eyes. Maintaining eye contact shows that you the conversation is important to you.

5. Be Honest 

Emotions play a huge role in how conversations escalate. For example, after a long day of work, the last thing you want to do is have a discussion with your roommate about cleaning the dishes. This doesn’t mean that this topic isn’t important to you, it just means that you can’t engage it in right now. It’s okay to let the other person know that you’re not in the right mindset to have a civil discussion. If you’re not emotionally ready to engage in a civil conversation, you are avoiding a potential fight that leads to feeling being hurt. You know that you cannot currently give that person the respect they deserve. Let your roommate know that having the conversation is important to you and you would be interested in discussing it at a different time in the near future. 

For more information on the importance of civility, please visit the website to learn more about our campaign. 

Also, be sure to check us out on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Alumna Q&A: Morgan James

by Morgan James

Morgan James was a skilled member of Belmont’s 2019-2020 Bateman competition team, Belmont University’s 2020 homecoming queen and a 2020 graduate! The PR at Belmont blog interviewed her about post-grad life and what she’s learned through her role in recruiting and talent acquisition.

What was your mentality like when you graduated from Belmont and were transitioning into the workforce? 

I was so thankful for the time I had at Belmont and really grateful for all of the people that poured into me, believed in me and gave me opportunities throughout my four years. I was also sad to leave because I had such a positive experience and built a supportive and encouraging community at Belmont! I was nervous and unsure of what the future held for me and was trying to figure out what my next step looked like. Also, with COVID-19 hitting us at the time of graduation that provided for even more uncertainty. I was applying for jobs, trying to make connections amidst the pandemic and often felt discouraged. Along with the fear and nerves, I was excited at the chance to dive into my next step, understand the professional world, make new connections and discover new passions.

How did opportunities like the Bateman Case Study Competition help you prepare for your first post-graduate job? 

The Bateman Competition prepared me so well for post grad life. I think it was one of, if not the most impactful, courses/experiences I took at Belmont. Bateman provided an opportunity to work on a team, take the reins on a project and make it our own. I think in most courses you receive a project that is well outlined/drawn out for you and you work with a group for a few weeks to complete it. Bateman was different. We were placed on a team for a year, and were driving the campaign from start to finish with the oversight of Dr. K and a professional advisor. This was an invaluable, collaborative experience that helped me enter the workforce with more confidence. I felt, and still feel so proud of what we accomplished!

What’s the biggest thing you think PR students should know about the job search and talent recruiting process? 

The job search can be a hard process and is a full time job. It can be frustrating getting declines/no responses, but being persistent and resilient can lead to great prospects. Updating your linkedin and providing descriptions along with your roles/internships makes your experiences easily accessible to employers. If you have a portfolio website or somewhere you are showcasing your work, create a video introducing yourself that represents who you are. This is a great way to showcase your skills and personality to an employer – especially in the virtual world! Be consistent, keep track of the jobs you apply for and follow up on your applications. If you have an interview, make sure to reach out to the hiring manager you spoke with to thank them for their time. This helps you stay visible throughout the interview process. I think there is a healthy balance between being too forward and being persistent. Staying top of mind to an employer is a MUST and helpful to differentiate yourself!

Why has working in recruiting been a good fit for you, and would you recommend anyone else with a PR degree to take a similar path? 

I actually didn’t think I would end up in recruiting and wasn’t specifically seeking out roles in recruiting/talent acquisition. I think it has been a great fit for me to continue to build on my emotional intelligence, allow me to create relationships with several different types of people, gain understanding and knowledge of different types of roles and develop my business acumen. I also think my company specifically has embraced me as I start this new chapter of my life. They have been so eager to share, help, guide and trust me. There have already been many opportunities to dive in and learn. I would recommend a role in the talent acquisition space to anyone who enjoys people and relationships. It is highly people focused and for someone who is energized by conversation and connection, this could be a great way to utilize these skills and apply them in a unique way. I have found a lot of joy in the field and would recommend it. This has been a great way to dip my toes into several areas such as marketing, business development, design, recruiting and gain a variety of knowledge in my first role!

Midwesterner by birth, Morgan spent most of her early life in Franklin, TN and graduated with a Public Relations, Marketing and Design Communications degree from Belmont University. Morgan thrives in situations where she can celebrate others and help them succeed. Lover of nature, cooking, good food, and fun fashion – on a perfect day you might find her skiing or snowboarding, traveling somewhere new, or finding a quirky clothing store and a great off the radar Thai restaurant!

 

 

 

5 Ways to Build Good Credit in College

by  Kaitlyn Drzewiecki

The truth is that students don’t know enough about financial literacy. So, why is having good credit essential? A good credit score will help you apply for a future car loan or mortgage.  If you have good credit, that means it will be easier to borrow money for necessities later in life. You can achieve good credit by making your loan payments on time as well. However, you want to avoid having problems with your credit. Use your credit responsibly, otherwise, you could have trouble borrowing money later on. Here are some ways you can start building good credit while you’re still in college.

Open a credit card

Credit cards can help take care of the daily expenses you have as a student. This includes books, transportation, and food. Having a credit card gives you a revolving line of credit with a pre-approved dollar limit. When shopping for credit cards, you should compare the annual percentage rates, fees and if there is a grace period.

Pay your bill on time

If you’ve ever made the mistake of not paying your bill on time, then you’ve had experience with late fees. The trick is to set a date in your calendar for when your bill is due each month. This is a helpful reminder to pay your bill so you can avoid lowering your credit score.

Check your credit report

Your credit report tells creditors who you are, how much you owe and whether you have made payments on time. Many other factors go into your credit report. You can request a free credit report from the three credit reporting bureaus which include Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

Use your money wisely

Only make purchases that you will be able to pay off. It sounds easy but sometimes we use the excuse of wanting to treat ourselves. You can treat yourself if you stick to your set budget. You should pay for your necessities first and then see if you have any money left over for fun things. Keeping a set budget will help with overspending for the month. You can track your budget using budget planning apps such as Mint.

Check your account frequently for suspicious activity

Credit card fraud happens more than you think. Some ways you can avoid your identity being stolen are to put a fraud alert on your credit report, check your credit reports frequently and change your passwords every so often. This will make it harder for your accounts to be affected. If you suspect fraudulent activity on your account, contact your bank immediately.

The bottom line

Remember, your credit score is based on your past payment history, outstanding debt, how long you have had credit, new applications for credit and your types of credit. Having good credit is very useful in times of an emergency. Overall, good credit will impact your ability to obtain a job or insurance. Start making smart choices now, PR students!

Kaitlyn Drzewiecki, public relations major and music business minor, Class of 2020, was a
member of Belmont Public Relations Student Society of America and participated in the
Chapter’s GROW Mentorship Program. She is an associate member of the Public Relations
Society of America.

Graduating In The Age Of A Pandemic

by Alexia Berton

Life after high school seemed pretty well laid out for many of us: go to college, graduate and get a job. But what no one prepared us for is graduating during a pandemic where more people are losing their jobs rather than being hired as many businesses are struggling to stay open. The spread of COVID-19 has made graduating in the 2020-2021 academic year a little bit confusing and a lot more complicated. Let’s look at ways to get through graduating during a pandemic.

Be Patient

A job may not necessarily come easily or quickly. It is completely normal to move back in with a family member or friend while you continue your job search and figure out what you want to do. The key is to never give up and keep searching even when your options appear limited and you begin to lose hope. When there is pressure pushing you toward finding a career right away take a deep breath and remind yourself that opportunities will arise in their own time.

Be open-minded

Explore opportunities that you might have not considered before. Applying for or taking a job that may not be your original first pick can lead to unexpected opportunities. You may learn a new skill that could benefit you in the long run, or meet people who can help you progress in your career in ways you never imagined. The good news is that nothing has to be forever. Opportunities to get your dream job may come at any time! The more you can look for ways to grow and expand your skills now, the better prepared you’ll be for when things start looking a little brighter and the economy starts to come back to life. 

Network

This is the perfect time to use the internet in your favor while looking for ways to connect with others. Engage in content with companies that interest you, introduce yourself to people via direct message and attend online seminars where you can get to know industry professionals. In some ways, this could be more beneficial because not only can you connect with more people quickly but you also have the ability to connect with people you might have never talked to if the circumstances were different. Take advantage of any situation that you can showcase who you are via links and attachments.

Spend Your Free Time Exploring Jobs and Investing in Yourself

There are plenty of websites that make searching for a job online easy. A few options include Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Indeed, FlexJobs or simply searching what you are interested in on Google. Show initiative by contacting companies or people in the professional areas you are most interested in and expressing your interests in working for them. This could be a direct message on Instagram or even a message on LinkedIn. This is also the perfect opportunity to invest in yourself by taking online courses, learning something new or building up your “side-hustle.” By investing in growth and learning opportunities now, you will develop skills and knowledge that will make you more desirable to companies that are hiring.

Be Kind to Yourself

This pandemic and its effect on the economy is outside of your control. Try not to compare yourself to others who have found a job or convince yourself that you are not good enough. Make sure that you are checking in with yourself and putting your own mental health first. Take breaks from job searches to do something you love or spend time with a loved one. Take deep breaths, write down your thoughts and talk to someone if you need guidance.

Life after college is unknown and can be very overwhelming, but with the right attitude, patience, open-mindedness and kindness, you can make it through this uncertain time, no matter how hard things may seem in the moment. Best of luck!

 

Alexia Berton is a 2020 graduate of Belmont University, where she studied public relations and business administration. She’s a dedicated individual who strives to build strong relationships and create exceptional work. At Belmont, she earned placement on the Dean’s List and was involved with Grammy U and the student showcase series.

How to Stay Open Minded During Times of Uncertainty

by Lucy Walsh
Personally, professionally and academically, I think we’re all feeling the weight of uncertainty that’s present on our campuses, in our workplaces and even in our country. However, many experts and psychologists have increasingly noted that resilience is one of the most emotionally and socially beneficial traits we can learn to adapt throughout our lifetimes. However, I’m going to make an argument for an intermediate step: open mindedness.

This trait struck me as an overwhelming theme I’ve noticed woven into the advice I’ve seen within professional development programming since the beginning of the pandemic. Recently I watched a program sponsored by Belmont’s Office of Career and Professional Development highlighting the job search process specifically within the arts, communications and technology fields. While the traditional cover letter questions and nitpicky networking preferences arose and were helpful, I found more solace in these identifiers of an open mind that so many of us are typing to adopt these days. The happy medium between pragmatic scrutiny and wholehearted positivity, achieving open mindedness seems like the most achievable step students can take towards building that hard earned resilience needed during the 2020-2021 academic year or pandemic-era job search. Here are my favorite tips on how to foster this trait in your work life, whatever that may mean to you at this moment.

  1. Take a real, honest look around, and you might be surprised with what you see. In the program I watched, each individual specifically advised that it’s sometimes best to “be open to discovering a path that you didn’t expect”. Sometimes it’s easy to get tunnel vision and to hone in on a singular grad school or internship you’re aiming for, but this could cost you opportunities that might be available to you if you intentionally audited your options. It’s great to have a dream, but don’t get in your own way.
  2. Try to put your talents into a different context. While so many of us have poured hours of work and years of identity into the major listed on our transcripts and printed on our diplomas, it’s not the end all be all, and that’s a good thing! While you may feel tempted to skip past any job listing that doesn’t explicitly say “public relations” in giant bolded letters, take a beat to read between the lines. Could your research have prepared your analytical skills? Has your social media experience given you an eye for both editorial writing and visual design? Ask yourself a few of these questions, and you might just expand your potential reach.
  3. Be specific and intentional in your smaller actions. It’s great to use your upperclassmen years building relationships with your classmates and local PR practitioners, and a pandemic hasn’t made that impossible. However, it can be helpful to be specific when you are approaching them in a professional context. Do you want 15 minutes to ask about how they’ve learned to work creatively within the confines of a corporate job? Are you asking for a reference for an internship next semester? While it’s always ideal to have a broader scope of an interpersonal relationship before making a request, don’t limit yourself by thinking that it’s not okay to be straightforward if the situation allows.
  4. Work on appreciating the bigger picture. This might be the most pivotal step in creating an open mind and building resilience, but it’s the most worthwhile. You’re never going to be worse off for taking this time to reflect on what you enjoy, what your values are or how you want to live. While things can seem rocky or uncertain now, it’s also important to remember that no one else is standing on some sort of solid ground. People fresh out of school and people decades into their careers have never lived through a pandemic before, so don’t fear introspection or block your blessings.

While mustering up the courage and confidence to approach the world with an open mind can be frustratingly elusive at times, we’re all better off taking these baby steps towards expanding our mindset to incorporate this point of view. Take a deep breath, and take it day by day!

Lucy Walsh is a senior public relations and publishing student from Evansville, Indiana. Alongside her duties as the editor of the PR at Belmont blog, she is an active executive board member of Belmont PRSSA and Belmont Ambassadors. She can typically be found listening to the full discography of Taylor Swift, walking Belmont Blvd. or writing snail mail to her friends and family. 

Network to Make the Dream Work

by Emily Martin

There is a common misconception that networking and marketing yourself is “taboo” or a bad thing, but in actuality it is one of the best things you can do to achieve your dream career! Knowing how to make genuine connections, talk about yourself positively and create a personal brand is a tool every professional should have in their tool belt. Before you even begin the journey into the professional world, you need to make sure your personal brand is formulated.

To create a personal brand you will use in networking, start by asking yourself a few questions. What three words would you use to describe yourself? What three words do others use when they describe you? For example, you could decide that your words are “creative, hard-working, and open-minded.” These words will serve as a guideline to how you behave, market and talk about yourself. The next step is to create a mission statement and an elevator pitch. Your mission statement is going to be a short one to two sentence summary of what you stand for and hope to achieve. For example, my mission statement might be “As a future PR professional, I hope to plan and execute events that are creative, fun and client-focused. My love for hands-on work and face-to-face interaction make me the perfect candidate for event planning in the modern age.” The elevator pitch is going to be a one-minute long version of your mission statement, and feel free to include WHY the person should listen to you and remember you. Use your personal brand to create a social media/online presence. This gives people a place to find you after meeting with you to see your work and to learn more information about you.

Networking cannot happen until your personal brand is solidified and ready to be presented to others. Once you are solid in your personal brand, the rest of networking comes from being confident, listening more than you talk, staying in touch with professional contacts and mentors and being memorable. Test your elevator speech on friends and family, and then make sure to get input on your personal brand as well. This will help ensure that it is as memorable and captures you as best as possible. Networking can start with a simple email to a professional in your desired career, to getting coffee and then staying in touch. Don’t approach the first meeting with the intention of asking for a job, but instead with the intention of creating a solid relationship with that professional. Maybe they won’t hire you today, but they might suggest you to a fellow professional or recommend you for a position later. Use this time as a college student to create those connections, as there are very few professionals who aren’t willing to help out a student. The most important thing with networking is, of course, the thank you card. Have it written and ready to mail right after your meeting. This not only comes across as more professional, but it will help them remember you, which is the whole point of networking. You have to network to make the dream work!

Emily Martin is a senior public relations major and PR Capstone student at Belmont University