So I’ve thought long and hard about how I wanted to structure this blog post. My initial plan included a standard introduction, body and conclusion. I would begin by describing my financial struggles, moving on to my educational background and finally connecting the two by mentioning my “educational perseverance despite my financial troubles.” But this is 2014, and that type of traditional writing is quickly becoming passé. Instead, I’m going to tell you a little story.

I was born and raised in Southwest Houston. I grew up with my mom and two older brothers. Life was tough sometimes. While my friends were feasting at the Grand Lux Café, my gourmet dinners generally consisted of canned beans and hotdogs from the market up the street. But in my eyes, my mom worked hard. She had such a positive spirit that I could have sworn the beans and wieners I was having was just as delicious as Grand Lux’s Lemon Chicken Piccata.

Moving on from food, it wasn’t until late high school that I really started thinking about my future. Originally, I had myself convinced that I wanted to be a doctor. The problem was that I actually hated math and science, but at the time, I didn’t realize how far-fetched this dream was. During my senior year, my mom and I finally sat down and had a talk about my future. My mom pointed out that medical school was not something I was passionate about, and she suggested that I should pursue a career that involves writing. I couldn’t quite see it at first, but after noticing my love for grammar and recalling the diary I’ve kept for the past 10 years, I thought, “This might just be crazy enough to work.”

Fast-forward to college, and I’ve decided to go into magazine editing with a background in Spanish and technical communication. I couldn’t have been more confident in my future. Well, at least, I thought I did. During my freshman year, I attended an internship fair, not to actually get an internship, but just to show my face to some professionals. Who knew that after networking for 20 minutes, I would not only land my first internship, but I would also change my concentration from print news to public relations?

I immediately noted that the only constant in public relations is change(hence the tagline at the top of this page). Public relations is different every day, and I enjoy that spontaneity. Currently, I’m a third-year senior at the University of North Texas. I have learned a lot about press documents, social media marketing and audience building. I feel as though the world is at my fingertips, and my dreams are slowly becoming my reality. While I may not be perfect, I’d like to think of myself as personable and charming. One of my favorite traits I have is that I’m relatable. I constantly use my life as a living testimony, and I’ve inspired many friends to fulfill their own career goals.

Yes, I have the education and yes, I have the experience. But what I hope that you’ve gained from this post is not just that I’m a smart pupil, but rather, I know how to tell a story. I build off of a persona and engage my audience. In this case, my story was not meant to elicit sympathy or sadness, for I am sure you have heard many stories like this before. My story is no more than a contrast between the inexperienced person I once was and the wiser person I am now.

Thoughts? Please leave a comment below!