Hello

To begin I want to mention that I am a first-generation college graduate or future college graduate. I am of Peruvian descent and I came to this country at a small age. During those early years, I faced the challenge of learning a new language, culture and making new friends. I spent my first couple of years in ESL classes and learned the basics of the English language. When I entered middle school I was finally put into normal classes and was able to join the excelled students by the time I finished. In High school, I continued to excel academically, and with the aid and push from my parents, I was able to achieve honors throughout my 4 years. My parent's encouragement drove me to success but my love for learning is what also made me a good student. During these years I also began to appreciate the art of creation and expression. I used poetry, rap, and music software to express this more creative side. I believe having some level of artistic expression is healthy for one’s mental and emotional state. After High school, I went on to attend Middlesex County College and it was here where I began to explore the many options for a future career. For some time I joined the newspaper and radio club. It was here where I learned to become more active, and vocal and gained confidence in myself. Before graduating I began to take classes about communication and while I didn’t know much about the field I knew I had a growing interest in the topic. After two years I got my degree and transferred to Rutgers University. While many students saw this college as their last choice, for me it was my first. As a first-generation graduate, I was proud to be part of a school that had such a recognizable name. It was at Rutgers that I learned about PR during my first semester and became interested in the field. I began to attend some meetings but my semesters and participation in the club were cut short by the pandemic. I finished that semester remotely and expected to go back in the fall. The pandemic, however, had different plans and after attempting to adapt to a remote learning environment I found myself struggling. After a year-long hiatus, I found myself back on campus and attended two classes and two online. This time I felt more prepared and used quiet places to excel in my online classes. The following semester I began to attend the Scarlet PR club and learned more about PR/communication through my classes. It was this semester that I also decided to join the MCM 5-year program and get my Master’s while getting my bachelor's. Now we jump to the summer of 2022, I am currently attending my first Internship and enjoying my experience working in the field of PR. I hope to finish my undergrad in December and stay for one extra year and get my Master’s. During this time I also want to further explore the field of PR and gain more experience. This has been my journey up to this point but I know I have a long way to go, a lot to learn, connections to make, and experiences to enjoy. This is me, this is my story.