The Walk After Graduation; A young PR Practitioner shares her Journey to Success

"Life is full of its ups and downs that everyone faces differently through experiences that either yield to success or failure. All through school life, I had this notion clicking in my head that it all gets better once you master the art of perfecting what one is good at. Little did I know, that it is not that easily attainable lest you place your focus on it. Being a student in Communication and Public Relations, I viewed my opportunities through wide ranges with a variety of fields to venture into upon completion. However, the one thing that I forgot to bare in mind was how I was going to put this mindset into reality and set the pace for movement.

Fast forward to third year, where application for attachment became a tussle. Most organizations that I reached out was a turn down with the same tune "we regret to tell you that we are not accepting or admitting students for attachment opportunities". A statement that each time I opened an email or a post card hit hard with each passing time. Did I give up? No. I kept pushing until finally I got in for a sit-in interview and in the next two weeks I was placed for a 3 months opportunity to learn, grow and improve skills learned in school.?

This was the best opportunity granted as I enjoyed working in a field where my skills were put to task. A very eventful 3 months, where congratulations and pats on the back were given for good ideas and great work done, feedback given on areas to sharpen and improve skills and even participating in officials event and direct client relations handling. The environment was so friendly and no room for bullying or being undermining or looked down upon for being a student. Three months came to an end and it was back to the classroom setting with excitement of two semesters left to permanently join the employment world.

The walk towards graduation was faced with several setbacks with the overwhelming one being the Covid-19 pandemic. Everything was at a standstill no one knowing how long it would take for normalcy to kick back in. Eventually, I returned back to school for the final semester, down the line came the final examinations and project submission. Seeing my name on the graduation list was the best life changing moment as previously individuals had complained of missing out and having to wait another academic year to finalize the course. There I was happy to graduate looking forward to internship and employment opportunities readily knocking.

Too bad that was not the situation. I tried for many offers without results to a point I was in tears and became insomniac because I kept beating myself on where i could be getting it all wrong. I held on and kept pushing myself knowing very well there is going to be a turn of events. Just when I was about to call it quits on the search, the best opportunity presented itself. The Skills to grow Africa advert became my savior and an opening to access the outside world creating a path to my career path. Had I decided to sleep earlier that night, I would never have come across such a life turning opportunity.?Here I am a candidate of The Young PR Practitioner Programme Cohort 2."

Cheryl Andaye

The writer is a candidate of the Young PR practitioners Program and a member of the Young PR Practitioners Club.