Progressions

More Than Just Networking: Why PRSSA Became My PR Passion

When I joined the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), I knew I had found a community that built my professional skills and, more importantly, helped me find my voice in the PR world. The opportunities to connect with industry leaders, collaborate with like-minded peers, and get hands-on experience have been an incredible journey. It’s not just a student organization; it’s a launchpad for my career and a support system that has empowered me every step of the way.

Three years ago, I transferred to Florida A&M University. I was happy to be in school but had not found my place. One of my professors, Dr. Hsuan Huang, invited me and a few other students to a PRSSA meeting. They were planning an event for a nonprofit organization called Donate for Life. Their representative told us how the organization changed lives, and I knew I wanted to help them. It was my first hands-on experience with public relations, and I knew PRSSA was the place to be. 

According to the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Journal,  “By their senior year, students involved in clubs and organizations had statistically significant higher levels of development in establishing and clarifying purpose, educational involvement, career planning, lifestyle management, and cultural participation than they did at the beginning of their first year,” 

Earlier this year, I attended the Assembly in Seattle as my Chapter’s vice president; those three days changed my life. I met leaders from other Chapters around the globe, connected with them and discussed how we ran our organizations. PRSSA chose some of the most inspiring industry leaders to present topics that would impact us as leaders and took the time to meet us. Each of the speakers showed us the vast possibilities in the field of public relations, gave us a vision, and went beyond the curriculum in classrooms.

PRSSA paid for two leaders from each school, including the registration, hotel, and most meals. A lot of the students I met also won a travel grant. It was so generous for this organization to invest in us. Eric Winkfield, a FAMU alumnus, took time to see me before Leadership Assembly began — he was also the first speaker. On the first night of Assembly, David Grossman gave 25 students $1,000 each as a gift to make finances less of a burden. I didn’t win, but I was happy for the winners, and it was exhilarating to see. It reminded me of the episode on Oprah when the audience won free cars.

There was also a resume workshop at the PRSSA Leadership Assembly, where each public relations professional sat with a few students to give them feedback on their resumes. Jazmin Eusebio was assigned to my table and gave us valuable feedback, encouraged us, and told us about the hiring process for public relations agencies. She spent quality time with us, and her advice helped me land a public relations internship at a major firm in my city.

PRSA has many professionals who are willing to help students. PRSA Board Member and Champion for PRSSA, Thomas Bennett, also visited my school after connecting with a fellow member at PRSSA ICON in Nashville. He gave me excellent career advice to map out my path. Mr. Bennett hosted a resume workshop for the FAMU PRSSA Chapter, calming the nerves of graduating seniors and students applying for internships. 

PRSSA has opened the door for other opportunities, such as Myra Blackmon’s AdPR Academy, hosted by the University of Georgia. The cohort comprised 30 students of color from all over the country. Students in the AdPR academy receive over 35 hours of training and mentoring by public relations and advertising experts, participate in daily networking opportunities with corporate executives and agency professionals, and compete in teams representing real-life clients. I was chosen to attend because of my work with PRSSA.

Fast forward to today, I am now Co-President of my Chapter and will graduate in December. My time at PRSSA has been the highlight of my college career. This organization has developed me as a leader and demonstrated to me how powerful it is to have a vision. I never saw myself in a leadership position like this, but it was a natural progression as I grew passionate about the organization. The FAMU Chapter of PRSSA holds me accountable, and our members are a joy to be around. PRSSA and PRSA professionals have a common theme of giving back and making an impact. They inspired me to do the same.

Enhance your knowledge of public relations and career prospects by joining PRSSA. Members benefit from hands-on learning experiences, mentorship, networking, and career development opportunities. Attend a meeting at your school, register for ICON 2024 to connect with students and public relations professionals globally, and get involved.