Who I am and Why PR Means So Much to Me
I often say my life is pretty simple. I enjoy simple things; working out, listening to good music, reading romance novels, seeing people I love and writing in my journal just to name a few. Simplicity is something we often take for granted. I have come to this realization through the challenges I have faced in my short 19 years. Knowing this, simplicity is just one thing I admire about Public Relations.
One of my Senior Portraits. Picture Courtesy of Destiny Wannamaker Photography.
My Journey to Public Relations
My name is Raegan Benda, I am from the ever-developing small town of Forney, Texas, about thirty minutes east of Dallas. I spent the majority of my childhood and high school career playing volleyball. It was all I did. Practice. Tournament. Position Sessions. Strength training. Being an athlete is all I knew. When COVID-19 shut down the world, I had quite the identity crisis. The inability to play volleyball led me to discover my passion for storytelling and connecting with other people, no matter their various backgrounds.
Truthfully, I discovered PR in a similar fashion to the majority of my generation, Tik Tok. I scrolled mindlessly and found videos about people that worked in PR for companies that they loved. This truly inspired me, because, until this point, I figured the rest of my life was doomed for staring at white walls in an office, watching the clock tick from nine to five. I discovered that I didn’t have to hate my job, contrary to what I had been told my entire life. As I have ventured into my PR, I have found that this field is truly my passion. Not only can I work for a company I admire, but I can also tell the stories of people and brands in an exciting way.
Public Relations is a field where I can be creative, collaborate with a team, and feel like my contributions are truly worthwhile. I am continually inspired by the work of other PR professionals, which motivates me to continue developing my skills in each branch of PR. I see so much growth in myself and my abilities just in the last year and a half, as I have taken on the position of Vice President of Community Relations for my sorority. I have been able to implement my knowledge of public relations into an organization that is sometimes difficult for large groups of people to relate to. These abilities are just one part of my growing PR skillset I can continue to develop as I take on other opportunities during my time in PR. I hope to continue to inspire myself and others with my ability to tell stories and create narratives that truly reflect the nature of the many organizations I am a part of.
A picture of my friends and me at the Bedlam Game this past year! Image courtesy of Raegan Benda. #BoomerSooner
As I look to my future, I see a career full of large moments, but also, a girl who continues to admire the simple moments in between. I am so excited to have the opportunity to chase my dreams and acquire the skillset to get there. Public Relations is the breath of fresh air I need to protect my happiness, and I anticipate seeing the places I can go from here.
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