Attending Conference was the single smartest decision I have made with regard to my education and career. I learned so much and grew as a public relations student. This five-day event helped me narrow my career goals and taught me about many aspects of our diverse field.

Initially, when University of Northern Iowa PRSSA Chapter leaders presented the opportunity to attend Conference, I was not among the students signing up.

After some convincing from our Chapter President, I decided to attend and thought at the very least, it would be a bonding experience and a great opportunity to visit the West Coast.

When we finally arrived in San Diego, I was preparing myself for five days of dry presentations and repetitive information. Our Chapter tried to get us revved up for Conference with a secret UNI-first-time-National-Conference-attendee initiation, but even after that I wasn’t very excited.

My mind began to change after the first session I attended, a Chapter Development presentation by University of Nebraska at Omaha, but what really convinced me was the Brigham Young University Chapter Development Session on reverse mentorship. I hung on every word and wrote furiously to keep up with what they were saying and what I was thinking.

I was even impressed with the way they presented their ideas: a captivating mix of traditional PowerPoint, speaking and comical interviews.

This wasn’t the boring, ill-prepared, lackluster type of presentation I had feared and expected. This stuff was actually beneficial. I never once thought “When am I actually going to use this?”

The social events proved useful as well. The PRSSA Fiesta was a lot of fun and a great way to start conversations with members from other schools.

I met many people from around the country and exchanged more business cards in a couple of hours than I had in the previous years of my life. And I actually intend to use them.

Over the next couple of days I went to sessions about a variety of topics including event planning, health care public relations and “how young talent can stand out.”

After some sessions, I shut myself in my hotel room to wrap my head around the ideas I learned and make plans for the endless ways I wanted to help advance our Chapter when I returned.

My Chapter Advisors and older Chapter members had been saying Conference was really what a person makes it, and they were right. Getting the most out of the event is not necessarily the same as going to every session.

If there wasn’t something that interested me, I didn’t go. I would instead spend the time talking to other members, Chapter Presidents or Advisors.

Some of the most valuable things I learned and the most valuable connections I made were outside of the sessions in a casual setting. I even spoke to a past National Committee member, which sparked my interest in running for a position and led me to talk more with the current National Committee members.

In addition to learning more about other Chapters and PRSSA members, I forged strong, long-lasting relationships with my own Chapter members. We got very close and discovered each other’s interests and talents, which will enhance our group’s overall ability.

I strongly recommend taking advantage of this incredible opportunity. I can’t wait to see everyone again at the 2010 National Conference in Washington, D.C.

Photos courtesy of Emily Nason, Roger Williams University and Keving Earl, Brigham Young University