Majors: Advertising and Public Relations, and Global Studies
Minors: Certificate in Sales through the College of Business Center of Sales Excellence
Hometown: Gretna, NE
Year: Senior
Favorite book and why:
Wuthering Heights - I first read this book in high school and fell in love with it. The complex characters, dynamic plot, and interesting setting gave way to a book that teaches readers the intensity of love and explores the topics of revenge and redemption. I think it has so
many great moments of teaching young readers lessons of life while also telling a story so intricately and involving different facets of social class, gender roles, and true identity. It is a book that any generation can love and that is what I love about it.
Favorite movie and why:
Pretty Woman - I love a good rom com type movie. This movie has great actors, a compelling storyline, and timeless themes of love and self discovery. It has a universal appeal of a good time and has served as my comfort movie for many years. As a huge Julia Roberts fan, this movie has some great cinematic moments and a nostalgic sentiment that gives a great amount of entertainment. I highly recommend.
Why these majors/minors?
I chose a major in Advertising and Public Relations because I loved being creative and telling a story. I wanted a space where I could take those imaginative ideas and mesh them with a business and analytical mindset. Being able to learn about the full realm of communication where I can influence consumer behavior and people’s attitudes towards a brand or product was something of great interest for me. I also have a major interest in cross-cultural communication and the trends of other countries, not just our own.
I decided to add a Global Studies major second semester freshman year to fully dive into my complete interest in advertising and exploring global markets. It has been so much more rewarding then I ever thought possible with the exposure to different backgrounds, ethnicities, and interests of other UNL students and being able to apply the strategies and concepts I have learned not just into my everyday life but into a future career as well.
A couple of classes I have enjoyed the most were COMM 311, which is an intercultural communication class and Jacht, which is a student advertising agency class. These classes were from each of my majors and gave so much insight into improving the relationships around me and advancing my career prospects. I was able to have a lot of hands-on work with each of these classes as well which gave me effective experience towards adapting to challenges, overcoming adversity, and enhancing interpersonally with others. In COMM 311 we were given the opportunity to speak with students whose primary language was not English and have conversations with them about their life to learn about different cultures and help them develop more of the modern language. This was such an amazing experience as I met students from countries such as Sudan and Egypt but also gained such unique perspectives about the cultural norms and workings of society within those countries. I recommend this class for Global Studies majors to be offered a similar experience.
My other class, Jacht I recommend taking as an elective or capstone for advertising and public relations majors as it is a class that is set up exclusively to bring in local Lincoln businesses and give students the opportunity to work on an ad campaign in teams. Getting to work
within an agency setting as an Account Executive or Videographer offers students the ability to learn about digital communication, diversity, and creative execution all while learning in a team setting and enhancing your professional experience with hands-on opportunity.
Extracurricular Experiences:
I studied abroad in the second semester of my junior year which was the Spring of 2023. I was located in Rome, Italy and had about 60 students in my program from all across the United States. This was by far the best, most influential and amazing opportunity I took while in college. Not only was I able to fulfill my region specialization requirements and one upper level advertising credit, I also met some of my friends for life, lived within a different culture, and was exposed to a multitude of choices and situations that made me grow as a person that I didn’t even know could exist. Of course any abroad location will open up an individual to so many experiences and differing cultural practices, but Rome specifically offers a vibrant atmosphere with amazing food, architecture, and people that has become iconic
within world stereotypes. My favorite monument we visited while studying was either the Colosseum or Trevi fountain. The detailing and historic significance rivals all others and makes you feel as though you are walking through time. Along with getting to experience the
city you live in itself, there are also lots of opportunities to travel around to other areas either within the country or continent. While I was studying we also visited places such as Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. I absolutely recommend taking the time to find a semester, summer, or even 2 weeks to experience some time overseas.
Along with studying abroad I am also involved in Greek life at UNl as a member of Alpha Xi Delta as well as a member of the Center of Sales Excellence in the College of Business which will earn me a certificate in sales after I graduate. Getting involved on campus has also given me a great network and community of friends and peers outside the classroom and allowed me to expand the horizons of who I am. Especially when thinking about a future occupation, having a personal network of those who have different experiences can lead to great opportunities for you and build your resume. But overall, having people in your corner throughout your time at UNL is incredibly important and gives people a sense of purpose and belonging with like minded individuals but also new mindsets that are open for exploration.
Post-Graduation Plans:
Post my graduation in May I have accepted a position with Southern Glazer Wine and Spirits in Omaha, Nebraska. They are a U.S distribution company that sells to retail markets as well as local bars and restaurants. I will be a sales consultant for the company specializing in selling to my territory of bars and restaurants in the metro area. I wanted to go into sales after graduation ideally within a global market, but this opportunity forces me to communicate daily with a diverse group of individuals and come up with strategies that cater to their needs. Even though I am not launching into a career directly tied with global studies or specifically advertising, utilizing the concepts and frameworks of a global studies major will be vital towards my success. Having the background and degree has also given me
career freedom to mold my job to what I want out of it and my preferences.
