Putting the Relations In Public Relations

As I work through the final semester of my undergraduate studies, I look back at all of the relationships I have built and how they have impacted what I have learned in the public relations field. Whether that relationship was a short-lived interaction while tabling at an event or a classmate who taught me the inner workings of GrandPR, and everything in between. These opportunities allowed me to become more sensitive to the emotions of the people around me and hone in on that emotion to build something greater than myself.

Growing where I am planted

In hindsight, I can now see that the silly catering job I got after my freshman year of college was planting a seed that would take almost three years to come to blossom. As a caterer, I got to attend many events and learn how to interact with a larger variety of people. From accountants celebrating a gala to couples on the happiest day of their lives. The concept that connects each of these events is the idea that people want to feel important. This also relates to a communications role and, as I learned later, even applies to working in the finance industry. Throughout my college career, I have had the opportunity to attend many outreach events with different purposes. Through those moments of sharing information with people, I realized my love for connecting with others and showing people that their opinions and emotions are valid. This has impacted my strategy in PR, as I am reminded of the people who are consuming the communication.  

Experience out in the field

Over the past summer, I had the pleasure of working for WMCU, a company that is highly invested in the community where it’s planted. WMCU is a group of credit unions that span the western side of Michigan, including West Michigan Credit Union and Bloom Credit Union. Although I never saw myself working in the financial industry, this job gave me countless opportunities that I am eternally grateful for. This included working with the Hispanic Center of West Michigan to hold a community food distribution through Feeding America: West Michigan. I got my hands dirty working alongside Friends of Grand Rapids Parks in their annual Neighborwoods program. I connected with small business owners to show support during Pride Month and created opportunities for people to increase their awareness of fraud tactics. Through a variety of experiences, I have had the opportunity to meet many people and learn how to connect with them based on the context of each interaction. WMCU prioritizes these events and even sponsors them because they understand that the best way to differentiate themselves from their competitors is by showing up for their communities.

Building something more

Similarly, I have gotten the opportunity to capture the emotion of others. By picking up a camera and taking the time to peer into the emotions that others are feeling, I’ve captured the joy of graduating from college, proposals, worship, and growth. Currently, I serve as a Media and Marketing intern for Campus Ministry in Grand Rapids, which has allowed me to find a new depth in media creation. No matter your religious beliefs, when someone is doing what they love, it’s evident on camera. The media that I have created has been used to reach new people on campus and continue to build community. 

Through all of these experiences, I have come to realize that it's all connected by the people who make these moments impactful. Without them, there are no real results. There is value in outreach. Similar to how people care about a company's sustainability efforts, they also care that you show genuine interactions within their community. Knowing that you value the community allows you to establish trust. Whether or not you have an interest in the events industry, connecting with the people around you is essential in virtually any kind of work. Being a connector allows the people around you to succeed, which in turn allows you to succeed.

About the Author

Katelyn Rambo is a senior majoring in Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Digital Studies. She is currently in her third semester with GrandPR, back in the account associate role after serving as an account executive last semester. She is currently a Marketing Intern at WMCU and previously interned for the Grand Rapids Gold as a Game Day Promotional Intern. After graduation, Katelyn would like to immerse herself in the world of event planning or B2C Marketing and explore new cities around the world.