Making the Most of it

Wow it’s been a while since I’ve posted.

I’ve been quite busy lately. When I’m not working my two part-time jobs (in different cities!) and interning for Ballet Fantastique, I’m usually having a lot of fun with my friends in the summer sun. However, I realize the importance of maintaining my blog, especially as I am still searching for my dream job.

I eventually stopped asking myself, “why me?” and realized that the best thing you can do about a less-than-ideal situation is accept it and make the best of it. I haven’t let myself forget where I am in life.

I may not have a full-time job in my field of public relations; however, I’m making the most of it. I was very fortunate to land a paid internship with Portland Public Schools this summer, where I’ve gotten a good taste of reporting and feature writing. It has been a lot of fun and a great experience (well worth the weekly drive to Portland from Roseburg).

I am also a part-time assistant manager at maurices, a women’s retail clothing store. Because maurices is a non-advertising company and bases its stores in small towns, there are plenty of community-based marketing opportunities. I’ve been with maurices since I graduated high school in 2005, so when I was promoted to an assistant manager in May, I knew that it would be an opportunity for me to not only learn valuable managerial skills, but to put my PR skills to use, as well.

I’m very excited about an upcoming Hometown Pride initiative called “Rescues & Runways” to benefit two local animal shelters.

The initiative is corporate-wide, meaning all 700 -plus maurices stores across the country will be partnering with their local animal shelters to help collect and donate a total of a half a million pounds of food and supplies. Another goal of the initiative is to help get animals adopted and into loving, safe homes.

This is my Lhasa Apso Zoe at eight months. She turned me into a pet lover.

I was very excited when my store manager made me the lead for this event, and I’m looking forward to making it as big as possible. Our store will be working with Saving Grace Pet Adoption Center and Umpqua Valley Humane Society to hold a donation drive throughout September, as well as a fashion show to help promote the donation drive and pet adoption.

I’ll be able to put so many of my PR skills to use for this, including community outreach, media relations and event planning.

I know I have a lot of work ahead of me to make this event as big as possible in the short time I have. I have this opportunity in front of me, so why not make the most of it?