Biography:
I chose to major in English because writing is my passion. A business minor along with proficiency in Spanish helped me to land a great position in my field. I am currently employed at White Good and Co. Advertising located in Lancaster, Pa., where I am the assistant public relations coordinator. We are an advertising agency that specializes in home furnishings with clients from all over the world ranging from residential building products to commercial clients. A few of our clients I have worked with so far include Tile of Spain, Natuzzi, Zeba, StarNet Commercial Flooring and Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry. We are a full service agency providing creative communications, public relations, as well as media planning and placement.
I would have to say that my knowledge of Spanish was a determining factor in being hired for this position because the agency has a client from Spain, and no one in the office speaks the language. While that is not the only client I work with, I have done a lot of translating and have been beneficial to the agency in that way. This is a great starting position with a lot of room for growth as I am already learning so much about the advertising industry and getting to travel all over the country. I have been doing some creative work, writing press releases, articles for publications, planning events and much more.
While attending Fairmont State, I was involved in the Honors Program as secretary and then appointed travel chair. I was also a member of Sigma Tau Delta, the National English Honorary Society. My hobbies include writing poetry and short stories and I am currently working on a novel (which will probably take the rest of my life to complete at the rate I'm going). Other interests include reading, cooking, traveling and pottery.
What advice would you give current or prospective students?:
I know students are busy in their final semester; but take it from someone who knows, finding a job is a job. So, get a jump on that task, after all, it's your life and no one else is going to do it for you. Your career is not like college where you have a due date for an assignment and a professor reminding you of it, you have take responsibility for your own future. And don't be afraid to leave home…you have to go where your industry takes you. I've only been here in Lancaster for a month and it's already starting to feel like home.
What was the most important thing you learned while attending Fairmont State?:
Learning another language is an invaluable asset. I can't stress enough how important it is to have a competitive edge in today's job market. It's a rough world out here. Again, I am quite positive that the reason I have the position here at White Good & Co. is due to that knowledge, coupled with the ability to write creatively and factually. Writing is another skill set that will take you a long way because no matter where you go to find a job, every business needs people who can write.
