Networking tips as a young professional navigating public relations and marketing: told through the lens for a first-generation Latina.
You would never believe this but...
The image of the girl to the left is a picture of millions of fragments and experiences that have shaped me professionally and internally.
It has taken nearly four years to build my confidence and strategies to address my imposter syndrome. I have been in important rooms, decision making conversations, influenced many others through various leadership positions, and traveled to incredible places.
You would never believe this but the feelings of misplacement, identity loss, and not belonging still arise.
I will start with the image of a seventeen year old freshmen in college, freshly in the pandemic, and freshly lost with a new chapter to navigate. I had just graduated high school, adapted to a new routine of commuting an hour and a half to school, and becoming the first in my family to attend college.
When I think about my past self and this phase where I was introduced to imposter syndrome, I address it with gratitude for the development and growth that I have experienced since then. Being a commuter, I lacked connection to my community, profession, had no friends or involvement, and struggled with academic discipline post-pandemic. As I take you through my story of how I experienced one of the most impactful weeks of my career to this point, I will share the truths and wisdom that I burden and float with.
For the last ten months, I have been planning an international conference for the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) to be hosted by my university's chapter. I have been involved in this organization since my junior year of college and have build my leadership through it. When I was selected as Programs Director for the conference last December, I was elected to be chapter president a few months later.
This meant developing programming, for over 500 students, producing event descriptions, topics, and themes to design the best professional development experience for students. Between these two roles, I did extensive management and forced myself into uncomfortable corners in order to create the best professional development experience for other students. Throughout the last week, I have seen the seeds of our work flourish through connections with students from all states, backgrounds, and characters. Despite being in a celebrated position, I battled feeling small, shadowed, and not confident. When these emotions arise, empowerment, stability, and reassurance follow.
Faceless
Being in a room with students who come from academic discipline and education while you haven't can feel deteriorating to your professional confidence.
Though I am proud of my upbringing and culture in the ways it has shaped my character, I find myself feeling faceless and unrecognizable in these experiences. I was surrounded by students who's parents taught them to regularly read and trained their professional social skills. They most likely have an easier time approaching executives and asking great questions because they look like them, sounds like them, and connect better with them. These students wrote better, spoke better, and knew better than I did. These recognitions, praises, and influences are faceless when I do not feel like I deserved or earned them - or so I felt.
you're wrong
Did that sound familiar? I bet it did and you're wrong. The way you were raised does not have to define your ability to succeed. If you feel that you need improvement on your professional and networking skills to echo the confidence others with guidance and advantages do, you can. If you want to command your future through persistence, continued education, and an unstoppable work ethic, you can.
To come from a culture that is rooted in humility, kindness, honestly, selflessness, and unmatchable persistence is a blessing to embody and run with. For the last four years, I have had to remind myself of this each time my imposter syndrome resurfaces. Just because I am not at a top university, did not have a global brand internship, or parents with college degrees to expand my knowledge and respect, there is empowerment in deciding your own legacy.
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