Hi, my name is Jade, and I am a Business/Corporate Communications Student in my final semester of study at Brock University! Experience is what can lead you to success, especially during a global pandemic. This year being my final at Brock University I wanted to take as many opportunities I could. Opportunities that would allow me to explore who I am as a young professional. A fair shake to test my complex undergraduate knowledge, skills and abilities developed during my studies.
September 2020 I enrolled in Experiential learning a CPCF (Communications Pop Culture and Film) course. This course allows for students to intern part time for a local community partner. When the list of potential intern placements came out, I knew I wanted to intern for a brand/company that was up and coming. As I went through the list, I made note of myNiagara online. The brands mission of inspiring community connection by interactively sharing LIVE.LOVE.LOCAL. Alongside acting as joiners, influencers, and big supporters of Niagara local culture and ‘Shop Local’ campaigns. As someone who grew up in Niagara I was fortunate enough to be brought on board with myNiagara online, to assist with their marketing and digital media and promote my local community.
Why would I choose to study communications? Well, I never knew media would be such a large part of my life; apparently my parents always knew. At a very young age my parents had troubles keeping me away from people, I was never the sit at home alone type of kid, I always wanted to be interacting with family and friends. In high school I began to work for a local family run restaurant, Cafe Amore. This is where I found my love for supporting local, where I realized the importance of supporting small business and what they do for our community.
Some people like my internship partner Rashmi have always known what they wanted to study. Growing up I played lacrosse at an elite level, where I told myself I wanted to get an athletic scholarship and study physiotherapy. I did receive a scholarship, but just days before I was getting ready to leave I decided it would be best to stay home.
Since the decision to stay home, I decided to apply to Niagara College to study international business. While I was there, I had the opportunity to travel to Germany ; alongside two professors and a group of students to study personal selling at the University of Osnabruck. This is where I found my love for communications, marketing and public relations. I came home and talked to my friends who went to Brock and studied media communications about my newfound interests. My friend being in her second year at Brock, invited me to come to sit in on a lecture. That experience led me to studying at Brock after the completion of my studies at Niagara College.
Throughout all of my studies I have gained a lot of knowledge, that I have applied to my internship with myNiagara online. However, I have also added a lot of new skills during this internship including; new platforms for social media scheduling and how to operate a website behind the scenes. I am confident that the coming months of my internship with provide more opportunities to further develop my skills sets.
