PRSSA / PRSA National Conference

All the uncertainty I was feeling before attending this conference was completely unnecessary.  Before I arrived in Washington D.C. I was under the assumption that the PRSA and PRSSA conferences were convergent which was the case somewhat, however they were two completely different events going on at separate hotels.  This experience was hands-down the most beneficial experience I have had in the development of my understanding of the PR profession.

Each day was filled with sessions which occurred simultaneously so that our experience could be tailored to fit our interests.  The discussion topics included: non-for-profit, agency & corporate life, ethics, crisis communication, social media, entertainment & sports, and a variety of other subjects helping to expand our professional horizons.

Networking opportunities were off the charts!  There was a session devoted to networking where we were able speak with representatives (many being higher-ups) from several agencies who were seeking interns.  Also, I made invaluable connections with other students which was incredibly motivating because it is easy, especially for me, to feel like I am alone in my quest for experience and comprehension.  My network of peers pursuing the same career path has expanded beyond those in my school to universities all across the country and I intend on maintaining correspondence with many of them which will benefit all of us in that we can share our experiences with each other.

I was expecting to be intimidated by the experience but the separation of the students and professionals gave me a sense of unity from my end because I was surrounded by others that are in the same boat.  The PRSA conference was just down the road and we were able to attend several of the keynote speakers and a networking fair which was filled with information about different companies and a ridiculous amount of free goodies!

Ben Pearcy, Bettina Luescher, Lauren Gray

The keynote speakers at the PRSA conference were one of my favorite parts of attending.  It was great to listen to very influential people in some of the biggest organizations in the world and their experiences.  Bettina Luescher from the World Food Programme gave a very insightful presentation on the challenges of responding to crises, including the earthquake in Haiti, and spreading awareness of the organization and their cause.  It was inspiring to see how effective public relations can be in alleviating some of the world's greatest problems.

Bettina Luescher on David Letterman                  

                                                                              

I can not wait to have an experience like this again.  I took in so much in five days that it would literally fill a novel to go through and touch on all of it, but if you are a student I highly suggest attending this event next year!  I would love to hear from anyone and everyone who has questions or comments about my experience or their experiences at conferences such as this one!