Let Your Learning Lead to Action!

As we all know, knowledge is power. However, it isn't power until you actually put your knowledge to use. A wise guy once told me " Don't let your learning lead to knowledge, let your learning lead to action." This statement stayed close to me simply because of its truthfulness. How can one fully learn without actually doing it or putting your knowledge into action? You really can't!

Therefore as you continue on your college journey, be sure to take action. This would only benefit you and add to your expertise. Below are different ways you can put your learning to action:

1. Internships- Yes, internships are mandatory in college but it's ABSOLUTELY important. Lectures are just the form of learning but actually putting your learning into the work field is a form of action. You will never know what you understood in class until you put your theories, knowledge of case studies and class examples to use.

2. Volunteering- In college, learning about current events and issues that are faced by different countries and states are usually presented in our daily lives. Therefore, take action and assist different organizations that helps people who are in need.

Are there any other ways you have lead your learning into action? Share with us!

Classes Missing From Your Fall Semester Schedule

A new semester is quickly approaching. That means it’s time for some of us to knock the pool water out of our ears and get back to business. Others of you may have stayed in professional PR mode during the summer. Regardless of which camp you belong to, everyone can always take the time to brush up on a few skills before heading back to our classrooms and offices. 

About a week ago PR Daily wrote on the “7 Underrated Skills Every PR Newbie Needs.” Some of those skills stood out to me because they are not just underrated, they are not taught. Here are three of those skills that you may not learn in a classroom but you should definitely invest the time in learning for yourself:

• Basic HTML knowledge: All of the coding may seem pretty intimidating, but it’s good information to have in your back pocket. If the images for your internship company’s website (or your own) aren’t showing up, you can be the intern to step up and solve the problem! A great resource to learn more about HTML can be found at http://www.codecademy.com/.
• Video editing: This is another, seemingly, daunting task. Vine and Instagram video have brought out the inner videographer in us all, but knowing your way around iMovie or Final Cut Pro is much different. Having a basic editing skill set is another trait that can really set you apart. You can practice by recording and editing short 30 second clips and work your way up from there.
• SEO: Search engine optimization is extremely helpful whether you have your own personal blog or simply contribute to someone else’s. Understanding the best keywords to use in headings and titles can be the difference between 10 and 1,000 page views. For a helpful break down of SEO basics, check out http://moz.com/learn/seo. 

If these are skills that you aren’t learning in a classroom setting, take the time to teach yourself! You may not use them everyday, but they will definitely serve you well in the long run.

Are there new skills that you have been meaning to learn more about? We would love to hear them!

Getting Real With PR

Remember sitting in your 9^th grade geometry class listening to your teacher ramble on about the Pythagorean Theorem as you sat wondering "When am I ever going to use this in real life?” Often times, it can be difficult to learn something if you do not understand its real world application. It is one of the reasons why future PR professionals should get a dose of real world experience. Here are three tips to get you started. 

1. Volunteer
Of course an internship would be the biggest gateway into the professional PR world, but maybe you are not ready to take on that responsibility on top of a full course load. Volunteering is a great alternative. Many PR companies look for volunteers to help assist at events. Whether that means helping to manage the press, direct attendees, or be an extra set of hands, there are many volunteer opportunities out there. Pay attention to what’s going on in your town. Suppose you heard the city’s children’s hospital is having a fundraising event, contact the hospital’s PR team and ask if you can volunteer.

2. Start a Blog
You know what they say, practice makes perfect! In the PR world, the more you write, the better you become. Blogging is a growing trend that many companies have adopted. Starting your own blog will give you practical writing experience that will strengthen your PR skills for a future internship or career. Blog about local events happening in your town or about a story you saw on the news.

3. Subscribe to Daily Reads
Even though this is not a hands on experience, reading the news forces you to lift your head out of text books and look beyond your campus bubble into the real world. Whether that means pulling up CNN.com on your smart phone or picking up a good old-fashioned paper, it is crucial to read the news on a daily basis. Follow PR Daily on Twitter or subscribe to their publication to get the scoop on the latest happenings in the industry. You will quickly learn that the PR practitioners and the media are constantly adapting to different trends. You will also be able to better recognize reliable media outlets.

Do you have any tips to put your classroom knowledge to practical use? Let us know! 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Lauren Bentley.