Here at Illinois, our professors and other faculty do an excellent job at giving us the skills we need for our future professions. However, sometimes just taking notes from a textbook or studying flashcards isn’t enough. If you want to be prepared for your future, you need to go out and get experience in the field.
I hope to enter the field of public relations once I graduate. Although I have learned a lot from my media and writing classes, I still knew there were more experiences to be had. So, I began getting involved in extracurricular activities here on campus. I got involved with the Daily Illini, Her Campus, and joined the Public Relations Committee for my sorority. All of these positions gave me phenomenal experience. I got to pitch and write stories for the paper, edit stories for publication, and plan real marketing campaigns—all of which are important tasks that a public relations professional should excel in.
These experiences allowed me to take what I have learned from my communications and English courses and apply them in a real-life scenario. When speaking with potential employers, they are always pleased to see how I have actually gone into the field to gain real-world experience.
So whether it’s writing for your school paper, doing research in a biology lab, or getting an internship on campus, I greatly encourage getting involved with organizations that align with your future goals. After all, practice makes perfect!