Making The Most Of Senior Year

This past week, I registered for my last semester at Temple University.  In less than seven months, this chapter of my life will end and I will be immersed into the real world, filled with exciting opportunities, fresh experiences and the imminent dread of student loan debt. A whirlwind of emotions envelops college seniors as they begin to approach the finish line, from being scared of post-grad life to becoming incredibly excited to see what the future has in store for us.

There are a few things as seniors I believe we should all remember.

Figure out who you really are.

What do you really see yourself doing in 5 years? 10 years? Will you be happy? In order to assure that you will be happy, try to do a little bit of soul searching. What truly makes you happy? Think about what you want and need most for yourself before doing things just because you feel obligated or because others want you to.

Focus on your future in the long run.

Chances are, you will not be landing your dream job fresh out of college. And most likely, your first job will not be your last. Forget about how much you want to make and how high up on the hierarchical chain you want to be. Every experience you have after college is an opportunity to network, make connections, build experience, and gain more skills. Take advantage of the opportunities you earn post-graduation, and use them to efficiently mold the future you want to have.

Keep an open mind.

This is an extension of my first point. There are opportunities that will be presented to you throughout your last semester and into the beginning of your new chapter. Don’t be too quick to dismiss them. Many roads lead to the same destination, and you never know what you could miss out on by being too narrow-minded.

Enjoy it!

Relish every moment you have during the last few months of your college career. This is a time in your life that is so unique that you will never be able to relive it. Now, I’m not saying go out every single night and neglect your priorities, but have fun in everything you do. Keep your friends close; it’s common knowledge that the friends you have in college will be your lifelong companions. Make an effort to ensure you will never regret not doing something and make the greatest memories that you’ll keep for the rest of your life. 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Tyler Cameron.

Diner en Blanc

The Avenue of the Arts is known as the home to many of Philadelphia’s finest cultural institutions, including the Academy of Music, the Kimmel Center For the Performing Arts, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. However, on Thursday, August 21, 2014, it became home to a new cultural phenomenon – Diner en Blanc. 

What began in Paris, France over 25 years ago has become a worldwide sensation, taking place in over 40 cities across 5 continents. This year marked Philadelphia’s third annual celebration of the pop-up soiree, having approximately 3,500 attendees celebrating along Broad Street.

The event inhabits an iconic public space in its host city, where the participants dress from head-to-toe in white garb, equipped with their own tables, chairs, food, table settings, wine and champagne. It only made sense that Diner en Blanc, which celebrates dinner as art, would eventually take place on the Avenue of the Arts.

Diners feasted alongside close friends and perfect strangers with City Hall as the backdrop (which created very Instagram-friendly photo-ops.) After dinner, sparklers were lit and dancing began.

The greatest aspect of Diner en Blanc is the secrecy. The location of the event is not made known  to even the participants until they arrive, having been led throughout the city by different team leaders who help plan the event. 

I was lucky enough to have attended this year’s Diner en Blanc, and I was amazed. From a PR student’s perspective, the planning and execution of the event was flawless. The attention to detail was immaculate, and it was evident that the planning of Diner en Blanc 2014 began immediately after its predecessor in 2013. 

But how do you do PR for an event with a secret location? The social media presence of Diner en Blanc Philadelphia helped to generate buzz for one of the year’s most talked about events on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. From prior to registration through the day of the event, the Diner en Blanc Philadelphia accounts contributed photos, updates, outfit ideas, recipes, and suggestions to create excitement for the event. In addition, the hashtag #DEBphl14 allowed all participants to share their photos, thoughts, and excitement over the event.  

Diner en Blanc is a piece of art in itself, and was one of the most awe-inspiring events I’ve ever experienced. It was evident that all those who had a part in its success put their whole heart into bringing it to life. 

This guest blog was written by PRowl staff member Tyler Cameron.

Guilty Unless Proven...Attractive?

Last week, Wednesday, June 18, 2014, Jeremy Meeks was arrested on five weapon charges and one gang charge. The Stockton Police Department posted his mug shot, along with three others also arrested, on their Facebook page to inform their publics. The last thing they expected to do was catapult Meeks into Internet stardom.

The Internet population erupted upon seeing this criminal’s mug shot, creating memes, fan pages and even the hashtag #FreeJeremyMeeks. What about this man created such a viral sensation; enough for him to have over 200,000 likes on Facebook and approximately $4,000 (and rising) worth of donations towards his bail? He has good looks.

Donned the “handsome felon,” Meeks has stolen hearts of women across the nation. The media is swooning over him, relentlessly addressing his “icy” eyes and “chiseled features.” Modeling agencies have made statements, discussing potential modeling jobs for Armani and Versace for up to $30,000 a month.

While the media buzz circled around the convicted felon, Kyle Carpenter received a Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry for his displayed courage when serving as an automatic rifleman in Iraq in 2010. He shielded a fellow Marine from an enemy hand grenade, suffering catastrophic injuries from his eyes down.

This is a prime example of how distorted the media can be. Rather than celebrate a courageous American hero, we are more interested in a convict who happens to be attractive. Although not all media outlets covered Meeks’ story, and Kyle Carpenter was featured in various articles, it is interesting to see what media outlets prioritize as breaking news. In addition, because Meeks’ fame was triggered by social media rather than traditional, it seems as if we as media consumers are more interested in appearance rather than character. Not only does this instance generate the question of what media outlets find more newsworthy, but it also inquires what stories we find more interesting.

Below is a link to the original Facebook post from the Stockton Police Department, as well as links to his Facebook fan page and articles on both Meeks and Carpenter.

https://www.facebook.com/stocktonpolicedepartment/photos/pb.205951982834067.-2207520000.1403891179./626455670783694/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/JeremyMeeksDreamyMcMugShot

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/20/us/marine-cpl-william-kyle-carpenter-receives-medal-of-honor.html?_r=0

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Tyler Cameron.