A Hopeful Outlook

A Hopeful Outlook
by Shagah Zakerion

As my college career at the University of Oklahoma inches closer and closer to the finale, I am forced to answer the daunting question all seniors must face: So, what are you doing with your life come May? While I wish I had a clear answer, the truth is I am not sure. I may have a public relations degree, but my experiences in the last four years have shown me that nothing is set in stone.

I started four years ago thinking that public relations was perfect for me. I watched Samantha on Sex and the City, saw the PR girls on television and was always drawn to the fast paced environment of public relations. I knew I was meant to work with people, above all else.

But, since declaring my major, I've had so many experiences that have changed the future I see for myself. I studied abroad with Honors at Oxford as a junior. This summer I worked as a Ewing Fellow in a congressional office in Washington, D.C. Now, I am working as a PR coordinator at the Norman Arts Council. Not only do I have a passion for politics that I didn't have four years ago, but I'm also driven by this desire to change things and give back to my community in a way I was not before.

Although I still love the thrill of a PR and the idea of working in communications, my passions have changed immensely over the last four years. While I sometimes question my decision to go with a PR major, the truth is that PR has given me so many skills that will only take me further in whatever path I take. My future might be a big question mark right now, but I'm confident and hopeful that my university experiences have prepared me for what ever I take on.

Photo by Lauren Harned

It's Been Fun

Time Well Spent

By Aaron Vossen

Throughout my time at OU I have ventured in many different directions. I have thought I would have been a doctor by now, an astronaut, an FBI agent, and at some point in my life I even thought I might be a SWAT guy. But none of these ever seemed to work. None of these were my passion; none of these seemed to fit. Then I began looking at what I do enjoy, conversation, public speaking, and fighting for what I believe in. The answer was Public Relations.

Public Relations had always been in the back of my head because of what my father does, but I had never taken it seriously. Now I look at my life, and I know it where I want to be. I have had a great time learning new skills, and honing in on skills that I never new I had but that I already had.

In my future I would like to work for a corporate company such as AT&T or some other big corporate office such as Devon, Chesapeake, or Conoco Phillips, but as far as I am concerned I would take anything at this point in my life because I have been trained and I can achieve these things but anything is better than nothing for a college graduate.

The last thing I would like to look at is my alternative. Here recently I have found myself wanting to practice law. I don’t know why this ambition has come to mind but for whatever reason I really, really want to. I would love to visit KU and get this because I am a huge Kansas fan. If it doesn’t work out then I have still had a fun ride and I hope others enjoy the ride as much as I have, no matter which ride they choose.