Why Join PRSSA During a Pandemic?

It’s back to school! But not really.

Back to classes, yes, but with the COVID-19 pandemic throwing a curveball at society – many of your college experiences look nothing like they have in the past. Although we are all still bombarded with essays, discussion boards, labs and other assignments that cause us to feel stressed, college now lacks a key feature: human interaction.

Getting together with a group of friends, taking your mind off school and getting off campus or even just out of your dorm room makes it all worthwhile. But now things are different. For upperclassmen, the lack of human interaction means networking to get your dream job after college is a little harder. For lowerclassmen, maybe you feel like you won’t be able to make a close friend group and live out your “college experience” with a lack of in-person communication. So how can you solve this?

It’s simple. You join PRSSA.

Whether you are eager to meet new friends, network, find internship opportunities or anything in between, PRSSA can offer it all.

Here at Eastern Michigan University, the PRSSA Eleanor Wright Chapter is dedicated to creating an organization that not only provides members with a network of students to bond and grow professionally with, but that also introduces you to professionals in your field, connects you to internship opportunities and provides you with practical advice to help you excel in your future career. Although the acronym, PRSSA, stands for Public Relations Student Society of America, really the organization welcomes all students with any major looking to improve their interview skills, learn how to talk to professionals, know how to create a stand-out resume and so much more.

This year, PRSSA will be hosting one meeting per month via Zoom filled with guest speakers, practical professional advice, networking and internship opportunities, and even chances to win prizes (like actual good prizes). PRSSA also hosts the annual EMU Student Development Conference, better known as SDC, and by joining PRSSA you get the opportunity to tell us who you would like to hear from at SDC. It’s online, yes, but that means we can invite anyone from around the country! It’s going to be a great time, trust me.

And I know what you're thinking, “Why would I add yet another Zoom meeting to my schedule?”

I’ll tell you why. PRSSA isn’t like your boring general education course as you watch your professor struggle to operate a video conference – PRSSA is an opportunity to meet EMU students you can relate to, bond with and have as your professional network connections forever and PRSSA offers you practical advice you will actually use in the professional world.

Personally, I am not a “joiner” kind of person and the idea of a student organization does not really sound appealing to me. But here I am, the president of PRSSA and a senior who has been a part of PRSSA since my freshman year, because truthfully this organization is something that is worthwhile. PRSSA not only has provided me with friendships that I will have for the rest of my life, but offered me opportunities to have a glimpse into the professional world and prepared me to conquer it.

So join us! It’s only one Zoom meeting a month. One Zoom meeting a month to provide you with the people, opportunities and wisdom you need to be successful in your future career. Come on, who doesn't want that?