College is all fun and games until you realize you don’t know what you’re doing with your life. Yes, I was having fun and making friends but what about after the four years? (I tried to stay at MSU a fifth year but my parents weren’t having it.) Freshman year me couldn’t answer that.
Diving in:
It wasn’t until sophomore year that I started to get into PR, but I jumped in headfirst. I wanted to do it all. It’s like I was an adrenaline junkie for joining committees. I was biting off what seemed like more than I can chew – but I’ve always been a fast eater.
Learning the ropes:
When I joined PRSSA – a great club that provides great opportunities, shameless plug – I saw something for the first time of my college career, people cared! They cared about the projects they were working on and cared about their homework and cared about each other. I just had to be a part of it. I finally found my place and it was full of people who motivated me to be a better person. Not bad for something I just happened to fall into.
Putting it to use:
Now at Martin Waymire, the caring continues. Hearing a firm say that the clients come first is typical – of course everyone is going to say that. However, at Martin Waymire, it has not taken me long to figure out just how much the clients matter and the volume to which people care. They care about their work, their clients and each other. Not to mention, caring is easy when the work is actively making Michigan a better place.
Seeing the passion that goes into each proposal, each meeting, each morning “hello”, is enough to want to do better.
There is a positive correlation between caring and good work. The reason I got a 2.5 in my Integrated Social Science class? To be honest, I didn’t care about the material. The 4.0 in Writing for PR? I cared. I liked what I was learning and spent time on it.
At Martin Waymire, I care. The feeling is contagious and I can feel it all around. If you care, it doesn’t seem like work. Working for something you fully stand behind is rewarding and yes, even fun. Find what you care about and go after it.
*Gina Peera is a student practitioner at Martin Waymire and a senior at Michigan State University with a major in communications and a minor in public relations.
