This week I'm talking about my university course- what led me to decide to study and build a career in PR & Marketing, and why it led me here!
My journey into PR & Marketing starts off when I was about 14, and it started with my 'hobbie' of photography. While in high school, I developed an eye for photography and got really into taking pictures of anything and everything. Most of my photos were through the various iPhones I've had, and managed to capture some beautiful images on holidays and special events. My favourite photo I've ever taken in simple, but when I compared it to the photos from holiday sites; they were nearly identical- if its good enough for them, its good enough for me. The photo is from Albufeira in Portugal, its also one of my favourite holidays so I definitely recommend it! (I'd possibly go after COVID-19 has been tackled.)
Either way, photography was and still is a massive part of my laugh- to the point where I thought about taking it in college. That was until I discovered Casey Neistat. Casey Neistat introduced me to the power of film, and how someone's day-to-day life could be filmed in such a way that I'm jealous of it. Between him and Sawyer Hartman; my passion for photography switched to a passion for film.
I fell in love with the way people like Casey and Sawyer saw the world and found an angle to film that would interest you so much you want to recreate it- I tried. I remember a holiday a few years ago I thought about filming cinematically everything we got up to; but the idea of filming different angles of sun bathing on the beach was that adventurous for me; luckily I was on a college course that would allow me to do so. Heading into college I decided on completing a creative media course, which involved both film and photography.
This was perfect for me- I was able to enjoy everything I was passionate about. To the left is one of my FMP (Final Major Projects) we had to complete. I also wrote scripts, directed, edited etc. It was thoroughly enjoyable. It was during my 2 years at college I was 'introduced' to the filming side of marketing; I was hooked. So much so I wrote my specialist study on the history of photographic commercials, and my final FMP (that determined my grade) was an advert. It was towards the end of my first year and though-out summer, while looking for marketing courses I came across Manchester Metropolitan University's (MMU) PR & Marketing course.
I couldn't particularly say when I 'became' interested in the public relations side of things, only that through that summer I looked at what companies and celebrities were doing when things weren't going so well; and during family gatherings with the inevitable question of "What are thinking about doing for university Katie?" also came along with "So what is PR then?" It seemed the more I talked about it; the more interested I became. I liked that no one really knew what it was- I was hoping to do something they hadn't heard of or didn't understand- but I did.
That summer confirmed that a course in PR and Marketing is what I wanted, and I'm fortunate enough that the university course description I first stumbled on was the university I would be attending it- it's funny how life can sometimes work out that way. From applying to university to all the open days to the day I got my results- I wanted to go to MMU, I fell in love with the city and in turn the university too.
I don't regret my decisions to fall into different passions through-out the passed few years; I think it's really healthy. People rarely know exactly what they want and so at that age to be able to switch through passions to make sure that what I choose is what I actually want is refreshing and reassuring. If you're struggling to figure out what you want to do, think about what you enjoy doing and see if you can turn that into a career- if you enjoy your work, you'll never work a day in your life...thanks for the advice Dad!
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