Writing Skills
I have always been a strong writer because I am both creative and strategic. In my Writing for Public Relations class, I had a semester long group project that entailed creating PR materials for a local business. My group operated as a PR agency, I was the point of contact/project leader, and our “client” was Planet Smoothie Grand Central. We would have meetings with the owner, go to the store to create content, and by the end of the semester compiled a portfolio with a communication audit, media kit, social media calendar, flier, feature story, and audio news release. My agency presented our portfolio to our class at the end of the semester, and we earned an A. This project was one of the most rewarding assignments I have done at UT because it allowed me to gain experience and enhance my writing skills specifically for PR.
Verbal Skills
When I was eighteen years old I became one of the youngest yoga instructors in the country and the youngest employee of Core Power Yoga which is the most successful yoga company in the world. From a young age I started gaining great public speaking skills through yoga. Since eighteen years old I have been teaching/speaking to a room full of people at least once a week. Additionally, being usually the youngest employee at every studio I have worked at I have learned how to speak up for myself and gain maturity.
Interpersonal Skills
One of my greatest strengths is that I am highly perceptive. My two older brothers are both on the autism spectrum so growing up I have always been hyper aware of other people’s emotions and feelings, I am extremely patient, and have a strong emotional intelligence. I think this makes me a great marketer because I know how to word or frame a message to specific people and/or groups in order for the message be perceived positively. It also makes me a great people person; I work great on a team and know how to manage conflict well. Through my involvement with Special Olympics in high school and in college through Unified Sports I have continued to develop my strong interpersonal skills.
Leadership Skills
From a young age I have always been a leader. I started working when I was fourteen and have had a job almost the entire time since. My first job was managing a booth by myself at various farmers markets around San Diego. Having my first job be a job where I was almost always alone, I was able to gain great organization skills and learn how to work under pressure. It inspired me to hold multiple leadership positions throughout high school and I continued to do so in college. In my sorority, Delta Gamma, I have been the Director of Bid Day, Director of Senior Programming, and am currently the Director of Alumnae Relations. In each of my positions my primary role has been event planning and public speaking. I planned Bid Day, where I designed merchandise, worked under a budget, and led a committee; I coordinated a graduation photoshoot and planned a senior brunch; I also planned Founders Day. Each of my events were a great success especially because I was the first person in my chapter to ever be the Director of Bid Day, and for Founders Day it was the first year where we had the event at a venue off-campus.
Creative Skills
As the Social Media Manager for Never Alone UT I have used the Instagram page as a creative outlet. Since taking over the account I have implemented #mentalhealthmondays where I make posts that are uplifting and positive. Never Alone UT was started with the intention to be a safe place for students, who might be having difficulty adapting to college and finding friends, to go to feel included and welcomed. Because of this we strive to be as accepting, friendly, and as kind as possible. When I got my position I felt like our Instagram could do a better job at reflecting our brand and I have been posting with that goal in mind.
Adaptability
/Flexibility
I believe that being adaptable/flexible is one of my greatest strengths. Being from San Diego I was the first student from my high school to go to The University of Tampa and didn’t know anybody else going to Tampa. Instead of letting that scare me it encouraged me to get as involved as possible and take advantage of every opportunity that I found interesting. I am so proud of the life I have built for myself in Florida. If I had stayed in my comfort zone of Southern California I would have never grown as much as I have and had as rewarding of a college experience.