By Megan Ryan, Account Coordinator
Four years ago, I was adamant about following in my father’s footsteps, majoring in business. I had envisioned myself as a CEO generating millions in sales and making the Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list. Crazy, yes, I know, but my father always told me to set the bar high.
My career plans quickly unraveled when I became aware of the myriad of the math courses I’d be required to take to get there. I still remember the moment my counselor shared the news with me — my stomach dropped, and my mind began to race, thinking my career dreams had been shattered. Little did I know this would set me right on course.
You see, I’ve always had a love for writing, whereas I absolutely detested math. I spent a few weeks pondering different majors until public relations fell right into my lap.
When I was in the process of switching my major, a close friend of mine borrowed my laptop to do homework because hers was broken. I sat down one night, thinking about what I would be switching my major to, and as I opened my laptop, my friend’s PR assignments were staring right at me. I took one look at the writing assignments and thought, this is exactly what I want to do. Since graduating from San Jose State University in May of 2021, the same thought is still at the forefront of my mind.
Earlier in 2021, I discovered the power of writing down your goals and dreams. When you write down your goals, it gives you a destination to reach for. Before I graduated from college, I had written out a goal to be hired by the end of November 2021 at a PR agency that would teach me the ins and outs of PR. By mid-November, I joined The Hoffman Agency — proving how powerful the trajectory of a written-down goal can be.
I couldn’t be happier to be at The Hoffman Agency. The team brings me right into the epicenter of PR agency life from client calls to pitching, brainstorming sessions and more. I’ve had the opportunity to learn and experience so much in so little time, and it’s extraordinary.
A senior account manager described the HA internship experience to me as being thrown into the deep end with a life vest, but someone is there to help you if you’re drowning. I couldn’t agree more. Joining The Hoffman Agency has been everything I ever dreamed of: welcoming, supportive, challenging and electrifying — precisely the environment I had envisioned for myself as an ambitious graduate eager to sharpen my skills.
If I were to describe how my mind is processing the transition from college to an agency, I would say this: experience feels like an ongoing puzzle in my mind. The pieces are the knowledge I gained during my time in school, the new agency skills that I’m acquiring now, and the confidence I feel in myself and my abilities which grows daily. As each day passes, I find myself piecing more of the puzzle together, and by the end of my internship, I am confident that I’ll have the necessary skills to thrive in the PR industry. Now, on to my 2022 goals!
