Get your nose out of your textbook!

The truly endearing Deanna McKinley spoke to our class last night.  Upon her first words, McKinley captivated the room.  Her lecture provided insight on the "real world of public relations," and how to have success in the communications industry.  The hour spent with the class left a lasting impression on everyone, but her advice to get your nose out of your textbook and go experience it in real life stuck with me most. 

“PR Skills are not gleaned from textbooks, you need work experience.  Going out and   doing internships taught me more, it taught me what I didn’t want to do” - Deanna McKinely

I'm one of those students who has a wall full of textbooks, but after an opportunity to travel to New York for the PRWeek Student of the Year finals I found that one day of real world experience trumps a semester of textbook reading.  Textbooks can help with the day-to-day questions and initial learning, but internships aid in skill development.   

When pitching a journalist, handling a crisis, or promoting an event in the real world an individual doesn’t have two days to prepare.  Internships give individuals the skills needed to work and be successful in the communication industry.

Working full-time and hitting the textbooks to pursue her masters in communication and leadership, McKinley continues to understand the importance of the classroom and “the things that your professor never told you."  For example, learn to wear flats (since you’ll always be running). Know that something will always go wrong (so have a backup plan).  Last but not least, learn how to pack one week’s worth of clothes in a carry-on bag (it will become your best friend).