Every little girl grows up with a *somewhat* idea of what they want to be when they grow up. I knew I wanted a career that would allow me to help others, while also gave me a sense of thrill each day. I didn’t know what avenue to take - and eventually, when it came time to choose a major for college, I still hadn’t decided. I opted for the safe choice (LOL, so I thought), that would give me a lot of flexibility and different career options, and decided on pre-business.

After a few semesters of coursework, I realized that pre-business really wasn’t speaking to me. I wanted to feel excited about what I was learning, and most importantly, I wanted to be able to picture myself happy in the profession - and I had to be really, really honest with myself and admit that I just couldn’t see it. I eventually became overwhelmed with the constant battle of deciding whether I should finish out and get my business degree, or gamble and change my major to something I was always intrigued by - Public Relations.

Eventually, It took me crying on the phone to my mom in the McDonalds drive-thru (because sometimes, a small fry fixes everything) to realize that I needed to do something that made me happy. My family and friends always told me they could see me doing PR, and it was the one thing I could see myself excelling in. It was then that I took the leap to switch to Mass Communications and Journalism. After looking into the major, I decided to give it a go - I then enrolled in my first MCJ class and by the 3rd class was in love.

Throughout the many trial and errors of finding my place in this world, I had a great support system. I leaned on my sorority for growth and guidance, my now-boo thang Ryan, my bestie Mary, and my close family and friends, who all helped me find my individuality and my voice amongst the craziness and it has helped me become the person I am today.

So as I look at my life up to this point, I can’t help but feel overwhelmingly grateful for the amazing people that have gotten me to this point. So, my friends, that is the secret to getting to a happy place in your life. Chase and choose happiness. Surround yourself with people who push you and make you grow in all aspects of your life - it is amazing how far you can go because someone believed in you, and in turn, you begin to believe in yourself.

Xx

Bailey Clark

From the Desk of: Bailey Clark, RPM PR's Fall 2019 Social Media Intern