A little bit (well... a lot) of background on this girl...

So, I think I’ve decided that I’m going to give you the rundown on what my deal is for this spotlight student blogger. I’m probably unlike any other of the bloggers, since I’m not living in Clarion this semester. However, I am still a student there, and I’m completing one of the most important parts of a Communication majors requirements—the internship. This semester, I’ll be living in Shadyside (a nice little neighborhood in Pittsburgh , for those of you that don’t know) and interning at Jack Horner Communications as one of their two public relations interns.

This semester is a pretty big deal for my life. I’m 22 years old and this is the first time that I’ve lived outside of Clarion. That’s right, I’m a (gasp) townie. My parents both teach at Clarion University in the psychology department, so I chose to stay in Clarion for the obvious perk of free tuition. I like to think that I’ve lead a pretty normal college life, regardless of the fact that I never left my hometown. I’ve made tons of great friends, met some of my future bridesmaids (now, I just need to find the groom), I didn’t live at home, and I’ve managed to be pretty involved on campus. I’ve written for the campus newspaper, The Clarion Call, I’ve helped out in the PR department of the student run television station (WCUB), and this past semester I reported the weather every Tuesday night for WCUB’s newscast. I also spent this past semester being pretty involved in the student organization for people interested in public relations, PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America). In PRSSA, I was the VP of Activities, and really attribute a lot of my connections with being involved with that.

This semester is also a pretty big deal because, as far as I know (and I’m 99% sure of this), I’m the first intern from Clarion University to complete an internship with Jack Horner Communications (www.jackhorner.com). Jack Horner Communications is one of the top PR firms in the region, and has a very reputable name among PR firms. They’ve done work for such clients as Heinz (remember the labels with different sayings on the ketchup bottles?), Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, PPG, American Textile Company and more. They’ve also done PR for events such as the Mario Lemieux Celebrity Golf Invitational. Needless to say, it’s a pretty great opportunity for me.

Over the course of the semester, I’m hoping to write about my experience with the internship, this big change in my life, tell you tales of Clarion, and pass on the wisdom that I’ve gained at Clarion University over my five years as a student. I’m excited to see what this semester has to bring, and hope that you stay tuned to see what I get myself into. For now, however, I’ve got to get back to the internship. My lunch break is nearly over, and I’m sure there is something fun and exciting to be done here!