What an experience!!!

Hi everyone,

Well with Final Reports due tomorrow and my final 'official' day at Therapy Focus yesterday, it is definately time for my final blog for 393.

Well what an experience. I have been involved with and achieved so many great things during my placement period with Therapy Focus. It has definately opened my eyes to not only the nature of the workforce and what it would be like working a a PR practitioner in the 'real world', also to what I really want to do over the next couple of years and in my working life. For example, I always thought I wanted to be in events. I don't think I was ever one of those girls (sexist but true) who thought that the events industry was glamorous and all fun, becuase i never thought that. But I never thought events would be as stressful or tiring as they are. I was involved in three events during my time at Therapy Focus and for all of them it felt as if I did so much work in the lead up to the event for it all to be over in the blink of an eye. Now I do know that 3 events is not a huge amount and this is a bit of a generalisation, but I definately learnt a lot from the three, enough to know that I couldn't work solely in events. I would still like them to be a part of my working life, but I don't think I have what it takes to work for an events company.

I would definately recommend to anyone wanting to work in public relations to work for a period of time with a non-profit organisation. It is a great experience and so rewarding if youhave a vested interest in what the organisation works towards. As i've most likely mentioned, my sister has Autism, so working with Therapy Focus who help hundreds of children with autism is WA has been a way for me to give back to those who helped my sister. It has also led to another oppurtunity working with SibWorks, an initiative which helps the siblings of children with disabilites to meet others in similar situations to themselves and talk about their experiences being a 'sibling'.

Overall I think one of the biggest lessons I've learnt is that every oppurtunity is a networking oppurtunity and in PR (or any profession for that matter) it's not what you know but who you know. Perth is so incredibly small, so making the most of every contact or connection is definately advisable. I hope to be in television or film publicity one day, and I've learnt that just having a degree wont allow me to walk straight into my dream job. Utilsiing every oppurtunity, contact and skill is the best way to get to where I want to be.

Lastly, I'd just like to talk about the PR 393 unit itself, and although I dont think many people will be responding to posts this late in the semester, i'd like to know what you guys think. I think the unit is definately a great oppurtunity and one which forces students into getting out there and getting some experience. I definately think it has better prepared me for my departure from Uni, and it's not as if I haven't ever worked before.

What about you? Invaluable experience or required unit simply to be completed?

Goodluck everyone!