stressed and fabulous (mostly stressed)

I knew I wanted to work in PR when I met Samantha Jones. And by "met Samantha Jones" I mean that I religiously watched every single episode of Sex and the City so many times that I felt I personally knew each character. Samantha's job as a publicist was sexy, glamorous, exciting, and fun; she worked with celebrities, attended fabulous parties and events, and traveled the world. Sign me up.

Flash forward about six years and I'm more than halfway finished with obtaining a degree in journalism with a specialization in public relations. The glitz and glam are practically within my reach, right? Not so fast. As anyone who actually works in PR knows, it isn't like the movies. There is never a typical work day (code for you work round the clock and bring your work home with you on evenings and weekends), your email and phone will never remain silent or inactive again, coffee will run through your veins like blood, and you will turn into even more of a type-A freak than you ever thought possible. Yes, PR often entails events and parties, and depending on your area of interest there can be substantial travel to cool locations...not to mention the samples. However with the fun perks come stress, and according to CareerCast, PR falls within the top 11 most stressful jobs in the world.

As a college student juggling a full load of demanding and challenging courses, two jobs, and an executive position with a pre-professional organization, I lead a busy life. Add to this mix other extracurricular activities and clubs, a few hours of sleep, and a bit of a social life, and you have a perpetually stressed, over-caffeinated me. Most of my friends don't have jobs, and many of them are shockingly uninvolved on campus. Sometimes it can be frustrating to watch them relax or put extra time into studying while I barely find the time to shave my legs or eat three meals a day (these activities are too regularly skipped), but then I remember that I'm preparing myself for what will likely be an even crazier schedule after graduation. While "the real world" and working will come as a slap in the face for many of my peers, I would like to think I'm somewhat prepared. If nothing else, I have mastered the art of multitasking, hard work, dedication, and time management, skills I know will carry me far in future internship and career opportunities.

I'm excited to jump headfirst into a career field dubbed top 11 most stressful in the world. In fact, I say bring it on. I thrive on the stress, chaos, and energy, and it's one of the many reasons I chose this path of study. I intend to succeed in the PR world, conquer my goals and aspirations, and do it all in a fabulous pair of heels.

XO