Category: Featured

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

Staying Productive While Working at Home

by Molly Barresi

As the world moves online, students across the world have had to adjust to learning from home, and for many, it’s not an easy adjustment to make. All our lives, we’ve learned in a classroom with our peers by our side and our teacher in front of us, but this year is so different. We learn alone through a screen. It’s harder to focus. It’s harder to stay motivated. It’s harder get good work done. But here are five tips for how to stay on top of online school (and how to kick its butt while doing it!)

  1. Have a designated place to work: This should not be your bed. Find a place that works best for you to focus. This may be your kitchen table, a desk, a countertop, even the floor of a specific room. Make sure it is comfortable enough for you to sit while in class or doing work and it has enough room for you to keep what you need close by (notebooks, textbooks, pens, etc.). If you have a consistent place to sit, focus and learn, it will help you feel a little more productive.
  2. Set a schedule: Similar to your class schedule, make a study schedule and stick to it. One thing students feel they struggle with during online school is the lack of structure. Setting a schedule to study like you would you set a class schedule will make it feel easier to sit and get work done if you have designated time to do it.
  3. Set rewards: Think of something you enjoy doing. Plan to do it after you get an assignment done. But you can only do that activity after your work is complete. It will help provide motivation to get things done.
  4. Find a change of scenery: I know I said make a designated place to go your work, but there is nothing wrong with going out to get your work done. Where were your favorite spots to work on campus? Go there! Not at school? Find a safe place near your home to get work done, like a coffeeshop or the local library.
  5. Make time for yourself: Burnout is real, especially since many schools eliminated breaks to shorten the semester. Make sure you make time for downtime and things you enjoy. Share a meal with friends, take a nap, or go for a drive. Do what makes you feel relaxed!

Molly Barresi is a senior public relations major from Cincinnati, OH. She is part of Belmont University’s Public Relations Bateman Team for 2020-2021, the Boulevard Team and Belmont PRSSA. While she enjoys writing, she is passionate about crafting and conducting meaningful social science research. When she isn’t getting too excited about a research project, she can be probably be found at McDougal’s Chicken on 21st Avenue.

 

 

Growing, Leading, Succeeding: Belmont Alumni Aliyah Sheffield

by  Kaitlin Drzewiecki

A recent promotion for Aliyah Sheffield at Apple Inc. came as no surprise to those who knew her
as an undergraduate student at Belmont.

“If you have a dream, do not let someone tell you it isn’t possible.” As an eager public relations
graduate from Belmont, Aliyah Sheffield wasn’t afraid to do what it takes to land her dream job.
Before graduating from the public relations program in 2017, Sheffield was involved in
numerous campus organizations with roles as the president of Belmont PRSSA, member of Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and as a Bruin Recruiter.

With these opportunities, Sheffield took advantage of connecting with people. She also met
numerous future students as they prepared to join the Bruin family. While studying public relations, Sheffield said her favorite class was PR Research. Through this course, Sheffield developed a deeper level of thinking and learned about the importance of asking questions to find the right answer. Sheffield states that the public relations program allowed her to continue being curious. One of her favorite memories from Belmont was her
Maymester in Washington, D.C. She toured the capitol, the monuments and museums. This trip
emphasized her desire to want to work as a White House press secretary. It was also her first
time traveling on a plane!

After Sheffield graduated from Belmont, she pursued different job opportunities and
concurrently completed her master’s in organizational leadership from Trevecca Nazarene
University in 2020. Sheffield understands that each employee needs to feel heard. After all, this
is the first time in history that a workforce is combined of four different generations. Sheffield
also understands that it’s important for employees to support the goals and message of their
organization. Overall, she learned different leadership styles and how to communicate with team
members in the workplace.

Currently, Sheffield is working for Apple Inc. as a publisher relations specialist. She started as a
retail technician and before her recent promotion worked on the business team supporting local
businesses in developing their technology strategies. Sheffield stated that she “had the
opportunity to meet people from all walks of life (languages, cultures, etc.).” Through her current
role, she is in charge of helping publishers navigate how to publish on the Apple News App and
monetize their content. Sheffield will move to New York City for work.

While Sheffield grew as a leader and individual through her various work experiences, she never
lost sight of her path. Her leadership philosophy is, “Our team is a reflection of us.” Our values
are equal in importance to our team members. Teams are what make businesses successful. “A leader guides our teams through the good, bad and ugly parts of the job,” she said. “Followers
are just as valuable and always bring something to the table.”

The bottom line is that Sheffield wouldn’t be where she is today without hard work. Her advice
to current students and new graduates is to remember that everything is temporary. This hard
time in your life will soon pass. “Every moment is just a moment,” she said. “Do your best to
live in it or take the time to plan your way out of it.”

Lastly, never settle for “no.”

“It may take time to get your dream job but don’t let that stop you,” said Sheffield. “Keep
applying for jobs and submitting your work to publications. You will get several people to tell
you ‘no,’ but one day someone will tell you ‘yes.’ Never give up!”

Sheffield received numerous recognitions as an undergraduate at Belmont. She was the
Department of Public Relations Graduate of the Year in 2017. She was a member of the Lambda
Pi Eta national communications studies honor society and the Omicron Delta Kappa national
leadership honor society. She served as treasurer, president and immediate past president of
Belmont PRSSA. She helped developed Belmont PRSSA’s GROW Mentorship Program, which
matches interested student members one-on-one with industry professionals. She received a
National Gold Key Award from PRSSA. She earned the nationally administered Certificate in
Principles in Public Relations. She served as a congress member in the Belmont University
Student Government Association.

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.

Department of Public Relations Honors November 2020 Graduates

By Lucy Walsh

Members of the Belmont University’s Department of Public Relations gathered virtually on December 1 to celebrate a successful semester and to honor fall graduates. The event was organized by members of Belmont’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America and featured semester highlights and a guest speaker from a local Nashville professional. 

November 2020 graduates earning degrees in Public Relations included Kaitlyn Drzewiecki, Lindsey Falgoust, Katie McAdams and Emily Stembridge. Graduates were honored at a socially distant commencement ceremony hosted on campus on November 20 in the Massey Performing Arts Center, and each student was given time during the departmental celebration to share their favorite memories of their undergraduate experience. Graduate Emily Stembridge shared that her favorite memory involved taking every single public relations course with senior PR major Aliah Tayyun, with whom she won a 2020 Parthenon Award for their public relations campaign for Unlocked, a local ethical jewelry brand. 

Recent graduates and PR Capstone students also announced their plans to pursue the Certificate in Principles of Public Relations exam offered through the Public Relations Society of America and the Universal Accreditation Board. Students are eligible to complete their certificate exam after taking a certificate preparatory course and sitting for the exam within six months of their graduation. 

Belmont’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America was also honored for their awards from the 2020 PRSSA International Conference. The PRSSA executive board attended the virtual conference programming in October, and the chapter took home the Star Chapter Award and the Dr. F. H. Teahan Award for Outstanding PRSA/PRSSA Chapter Relationship Award honoring their sponsorship with the Public Relations Society of America Nashville Chapter. Jamie Anderson, a former PRSSA chapter president and May 2020 graduate, was honored with a National Gold Key Award. 

Other highlights included recognition of attending faculty and the addition of Amber Palmer-Halma and Annakate Ross as two new adjunct professors for the 2020-2021 academic year. Department milestones also included the launch of the Social Media Management major which currently stands 25 students strong after its first semester and the launch of the PR at Belmont blog. Additionally, Public Relations faculty members began teaching in the newly redesigned M.S in Strategic Communication & Leadership program offered at Belmont beginning in the fall 2020 semester. 

The Zoom celebration concluded with a presentation from guest speaker Pam Schmidt who currently serves as the Director of Human Resources and Talent Development at MP&F Strategic Communications in Nashville. Schmidt shared resume and hiring tips with attending students with the specific context to how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the careers of young professionals. Her best advice? Flexibility, digital skills and a well crafted thank you note are keys to success! 

A private, four-year university, Belmont brings together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. The University’s purpose is to help students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world’s needs. Rewarding career opportunities are offered in public relations and Belmont University offers degrees in both public relations and social media management. Since the establishment of the public relations major at Belmont in 2004, our public relations graduates are in demand throughout the region, from coast to coast and around the world. To learn more, visit http://www.belmont.edu/pr/index.html.

5 Things You Should Know about the Social Media Management Major

By Dr. Kevin Trowbridge

To learn more about Belmont’s growing Social Media Management program, the PR at Belmont blog interviewed department chair Dr. Kevin Trowbridge! To learn more about Belmont University’s Social Media Management program, visit http://www.belmont.edu/social-media-management/index.html.

 

What inspired the Department of Public Relations to branch out to add a Social Media Management program? 

Social media is pervasive and has revolutionized the way we communicate and interact with one another. Early on, public relations helped organizations and brands communicate with their publics using traditional media. Now, social media dominates the landscape. Organizations of all types are embracing social media channels to share information with and engage their various publics. As with any public relations function, social media management requires special knowledge and skills. We design our social media management program to equip emerging professionals with knowledge, skills and abilities to use social media strategically to achieve an organization’s communication goals. The new major and minor allows students to focus on this ever-expanding specialty within the strategic communication profession. 

 

What kind of future career can students explore with a SMM degree? 

A degree in social media management prepares emerging professionals to lead the social media efforts for any type of organization. Whether they are creating social content, developing the strategies, managing online communities or advising other communication professionals, graduates of our program will be ready to step into any of the countless openings for tomorrow’s communication professional.

 

What new SMM course offerings can students expect to see on Classfinder within the next few semesters?

Our first new SMM courses roll out in Spring 2021 with PRL 2880 Social Media Content Development and PRL 3680 Risk & Crisis Management for Social Media. Other new courses include Social Media Measurement & Analytics and Social Media Planning & Management. We plan to introduce them during the 2021-2022 academic year. 

 

 How is the SMM major a well-rounded program for all students? How can more traditionally analytical and more traditionally creative students find their fit? 

The best social media professionals tap into their creative and analytical talents. Both are essential for managing strategic communication in the social space. Our curriculum is designed for the creative or analytical student to hone their natural talent while developing the other. The creativity needed for strategy and content development goes hand in hand with the analysis needed for monitoring, measuring and evaluating. 

 

Can public relations students pair their major with a major or minor in SMM, and is this something you would recommend? 

Social Media Management pairs perfectly with many other academic areas, including public relations, corporate communication, communication studies, political science, creative and entertainment industries, data science, design communications, entrepreneurship, business, journalism, marketing, mass communication, music business, publishing, sport administration, etc.

 

Dr. Kevin S. Trowbridge, APR, is an educator and professional, strategist, researcher, Learner®, Maximizer®, Relator® and all-around communication enthusiast. And, Dr. Trowbridge fuses those roles as a member of the public relations faculty at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. In addition to his institutional and professional commitments, Dr. Trowbridge enjoys researching social media and new technology’s impact on communication and culture, leading a ministry to young professionals, collecting Potato Heads and experimenting with all kinds of technological gadgets.

 

Ask a PR Student: End of the Semester Reflections

After a semester unlike any other, the PR at Belmont blog caught up with current seniors in the public relations department to hear about what helped them navigate what their Fall 2020 semester had in store for them. With COVID-19 protocols and an altered semester schedule, things on campus and online looked quite a bit different, but our students and faculty were certainly able to make some lemonade out of the lemons 2020 had in store.

 

How did the PR department help you make the most of this semester?

“The department made me feel incredibly loved. In my senior capstone, I got to walk through life with other seniors in my major as we shared the good and bad of our lives as professionals and students.” – Sophia Johnson, senior

“Honestly, the PR department helped me make the most of the semester by just being here for me and with me. Both professors and other students recognized how stressful things were and everyone was just willing to help each other out.” – Molly Barresi, senior

“PR Capstone pushed me to network with more people online and build those relationships with PR professionals.” – Alexia Berton, senior

“They helped set me up for professional success as I look for finding jobs and begin to network within the PR field.” – Kaitlyn Drzewiecki, senior

“I felt very supported by my professors and was able to really lean into my peers for help with connections, professional materials, etc.” – Cameron Corey, senior

“The PR department was understanding of what we were going through as students and were more than willing to accommodate.” – Aliah Tayyun, senior

“The PR department has been so supportive and understanding this semester. They have done a great job molding the curriculum to fit this hyfelx model. My professors also always check on how I’m doing and they really mean it.” – Rileigh Skelton, senior

“The greatest benefit of my Capstone class was taking the time to develop an entire professional portfolio built around my brand as a public relations professional. It has provided me with everything I need to stand out in my job search.” – Lindsey Falgoust, senior

“The PR department is always such a great resource for it’s students. In such a tricky semester they’ve offered me so much advice and encouragement recently.” – Shelby Cage, senior

“The professors are extremely helpful as always. Dr. Bonnie has never failed to answer my last-minute, scattered emails asking for help on classes, internships, making connections or even just advice. The entire department has been so graceful with the transition to virtual and incredibly understanding and flexible towards students’ needs.” – Emily Stembridge, senior

“Senior Capstone has been formative in preparing me for graduation. Learning about the expectations and realities of the professional world have been tremendously helpful in informing my post-graduate endeavors. Also, the PR faculty truly go above and beyond, in every respect, to make students feel cared for. I cannot imagine what my college years would have been like without the support of this amazing group of professionals.” – Katie McAdams, senior

“Just giving me the tools to succeed, especially in PR writing!” – Rachel Smith, senior

“Their support and resources they provided helped me make it through my last semester of college.” – Gabi Howell, senior

 

A private, four-year university, Belmont brings together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. The University’s purpose is to help students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world’s needs. Rewarding career opportunities are offered in public relations and Belmont University offers degrees in both public relations and social media management. Since the establishment of the public relations major at Belmont in 2004, our public relations graduates are in demand throughout the region, from coast to coast and around the world. To learn more, visit http://www.belmont.edu/pr/index.html.

 

 

Making the Jump: Transitioning from Belmont to Beyond

By Lydia Bailey

Making the jump to transition from student life and four years on campus to the professional world and a nine to five role can seem intimidating at times, but with the right support systems and mentors can make this feat more manageable. The PR at Belmont blog interviewed alumna and former Belmont PRSSA chapter president Lydia Bailey on post-grad life and how Belmont set her up for success!

 

How did the foundation you gained from your time at Belmont help with your transition to post-grad life?

Belmont, especially the PR department, prioritized professional connections throughout my college career. Belmont PRSSA and the PR department provided opportunities to have one-on-one mentor experiences with leading industry professionals, attend international student and professional conferences and Nashville PRSA networking events, practice networking and job-seeking skills with peers and train with career professionals on resume writing, job interviewing and more.

 

What impact did joining the Knoxville PRSA chapter have on you, and what have you learned from being an involved member?

I joined Volunteer PRSA as the chapter was planning its annual V Awards, which recognizes excellence in the field of public relations among local PR practitioners. After sharing my experience finding guest speakers as vice president of professional development for the Belmont PRSSA chapter and previous networking and internship experience with the Knoxville Chamber, Volunteer PRSA assigned me to find and coordinate all V Awards speakers. This was a feat within only a few months of membership, but the leadership from the get-go made my relationships with chapter members that much stronger! I had a foot in the door and gained great professional connections along the way. I was recently elected to serve on the 2021 Volunteer PRSA board of directors as an director-at-large.

 

What from your time as Belmont PRSSA chapter president do you think helped you most?

The opportunities to attend PRSA/PRSSA International conferences and the Leadership Rally expanded my understanding and helped develop my PR professional dreams. The networking, the ongoing friendships, the inspiring guest speakers from across the globe, the opportunity to travel professionally to some of the greatest cities in the United States as a college student… I could go on and on about the benefits of attending what may only seem like a four-day student conference. I encourage every PRSSA member interested in attending to go, especially as a chapter leader. Many peers I met at PRSA/PRSSA ICON understood the challenges I faced in the chapter president, vice president of professional development and vice president of communications (please correct if not the official title for who handles all chapter social media – used to be “director) roles. Together, fellow PRSSA chapter leaders encouraged and helped each other come up with practical solutions to our chapter problems and held each other accountable at the conference and once we all returned home to our chapters.

 

Who on Belmont’s campus inspired you personally and professionally, and how did those relationships positively influence you? 

 It all started in the GPS office. I was lost in my search for a major, but the GPS office helped direct me to the public relations department, based on my interests and StrengthsFinder test results. One 20-minute conversation with Dr. Bonnie Riechert, and I was hooked on PR at Belmont.

No one encouraged and supported my college and professional career as much as Dr. Bonnie. I knew no matter what, she was on my team and determined to help me succeed. So many others come to mind, but to name a few folks at Belmont that changed my life in and beyond the classroom: My Wesley Fellowship pastor David Hollis; my mentor, professor, colleague and friend Hope Buckner; Communications and PR professors Dr. Jimmy Davis, Dr. Christie Kleinmann and Dr. Kevin Trowbridge; Sarah Cates and Dorren Robinson.

 

Can you describe your experience as a student writer for Belmont’s Office of Communications? What was it like playing such a big role in campus communications? 

Each day I stepped into Freeman Hall, I was met with new challenges and opportunities to grow my writing, adaptability and passion for Belmont. The Office of Communications team has Belmont students top-of-mind in all they do and write. I loved reaching out to alumni to hear their inspiring stories of “here to anywhere.” Knowing my writing was touching students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, potential students, the Nashville community and beyond helped me develop a greater responsibility in my writing and deeper appreciation for my second home. Not to mention, it was a lot of fun! I miss Greg, April, Sam, Misty and Hope all the time. 

 

Lydia Bailey is a public relations specialist for Moxley Carmichael, Knoxville local, aspiring traveler and canine enthusiast. She received a Bachelor of Science in public relations from Belmont University in 2019 and credits much of her post-graduate success on Belmont’s PRSSA chapter leadership and professional development opportunities. Bailey now serves as director-at-large for the Volunteer PRSA chapter and is a member of Young Professionals of Knoxville and Knoxville Volunteer Rotary. Bailey enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and spending time with her family’s dog, Winnie Cade, an English golden retriever named after two of her favorite things: Disney and Cades Cove.

3 Ways to Make Your Life A Little Easier During the Pandemic

By Aliah Tayyun

In case you forgot, we are in a pandemic. This is nothing new to us and it certainly is not something that we expected. As we try to navigate the new norm as college students, there seems to be more obstacles than solutions. I know for me, as a senior, this has been the most trying semester in my college career. As we begin to adjust to our virtual reality for the long haul, here are a few tips to help keep you a little more sane than you were yesterday.

1) Time management is your friend. I know you know, but time management is key in prioritizing a busy schedule. Even if we are not physically moving from class to class, we need to be intentional in how we balance school, work, and social interactions virtually. In this new era of learning and working, we have to carve out space to become fully focused and aware of what we are doing. Distractions are everywhere, especially online, so try turning your computer or phone on “Do Not Disturb” and get back to a more manageable workload.

2) Organize your space and day. Organization is crucial in staying on top of tasks and completing assignments. But this can also span into your workspace. In the new  virtual norm, most of our “workspaces” are our bedroom desks or maybe even our couches, but wherever it is, try to keep an organized space. This can help you feel more confident and intentional about how your day is going to go. It is also a little less awkward when your professor asks when you did your laundry last as they stare at the heaping pile of clothes behind you in Zoom class.

3) Breathe. This one is tricky. Life is so hard right now and there are so many factors that are contributing to our stresses: the anxieties of life, school, work, safety, friends, family and so much more. It feels like they are constantly breathing down our necks and there is no escape. The light at the end of the tunnel might seem impossible, but trust me, you will find it. Our newfound struggles can be tiresome, so find ways that can help you cope. Maybe it is cooking, reading, working out, sleeping, watching TV, talking with a friend or taking a long shower. No matter what it is, you deserve it. Do not ever feel guilty for putting your own health and needs first; it is not worth losing either of these things in the path to success.

This new era of our life might seem impossible, but we will make it to the end. Moving forward, I do not want to add any extra pressure or extra things to your list, so take or leave these tips. As we try to navigate our life in the virtual era, myself included, we must take our time and do what is best. Your efforts will soon be rewarded and just know that every day is a new day!

Aliah Tayyun is a senior public relations major and sociology minor from Nashville, TN. She is currently employed as Creative Director and Social Media Manager at Beneath The Skin Inc., a local nonprofit. If she is not working or going to school, you will most likely find her in the kitchen whipping up a new Pinterest recipe.