Christine's Column

As my last blog post focused on what I planned to do over Thanksgiving break, I figured it would be repetitive—and honestly a little boring—to recap the holiday again this week. After staring at a blank screen longer than I’d like to admit, I realized that instead of forcing a Thanksgiving-related topic, it made more sense to talk about where I am right now with school. At this point in the semester, I’ve made it through the biggest hurdles in my classes: the major semester-long projects. Most of you already know about my client project for this course, since we all tackled one. But because I’m a senior, I’m also juggling Capstone and PR Practicum at the same time. For anyone who isn’t familiar with Practicum, it’s essentially an extension of what we did in class this semester. We work with real clients, manage real deadlines, and get real-world experience in public relations. It’s rewarding, but it definitely adds to the workload. On top of that, I’ve also been completing a semest...

This past week was relatively uneventful, so I decided to focus on something that’s been both fun and meaningful — my group’s client for this class, Osborne Family Retrievers. The business is a family-run dog-breeding operation located in Alger, Ohio. On Tuesday, I visited their property to capture photos and videos for future content. While it was technically a work visit, it was also one of the most enjoyable assignments I’ve had yet — mostly because I got to spend the afternoon surrounded by puppies. A new litter had been born only a few weeks ago, and at just five weeks old, the puppies were small, playful and full of energy. We let them run around for a while, tumbling over one another and exploring their surroundings. Eventually, after all that excitement, every single one of them fell asleep in a pile of wagging tails and tiny snores. Lydia even let me stick around afterward for some extra puppy cuddles, which was the perfect way to end the visit. While I was there, Lydia ...

How is it already Oct. 23? It feels like October just began, and now I’m getting ready for Halloween. I love that time seems to be moving quickly, but with that comes the reality of senior year stress. Right now, I’m deep in the middle of several big projects across all of my classes. Between Capstone, semester-long assignments and client work, every week feels packed. There’s always something due or something that needs my attention, and sometimes it feels overwhelming trying to keep it all straight. Still, I remind myself that this busy season won’t last forever. In just a few more weeks, many of these projects will start wrapping up. I keep telling myself that if I can just push through this stretch, things will start to feel lighter. It helps to remember that once Thanksgiving break hits, the hardest part of the semester will be behind me. By then, I’ll hopefully be on autopilot, coasting into the end of the semester with a little less stress and a lot more relief. What’s kee...

After a week in Tallahassee, it was time to come home. In my last blog, I was in the airport about to start fall break; this week, I’m leaving the airport as my break comes to an end. I had a great time in Tallahassee. I ate good food and had some much-needed R&R. It was a great trip—until it was time to leave. My boyfriend flew back with me because his lacrosse alumni weekend happened to fall right after our break. We woke up at 3 a.m. Wednesday, which sounds dreadful—and it was—but I knew that by the time I got back to Ada, it would only be around noon. I’d still have the whole day to reset and get ready for classes again. For context, there are no nonstop flights out of Tallahassee, so we had a layover in Atlanta before landing in Columbus and driving back to Ada. While waiting in the airport, our first flight was delayed 60 minutes. That was fine since our layover was two and a half hours, giving us plenty of time to make the second flight. A few minutes later, though, ...

It’s 3 a.m., and the world is still asleep. My alarm goes off, and for a second, I debate hitting snooze—but not today. Today, I’m heading to the airport to see my boyfriend in Tallahassee, where he’s finishing his MBA. We’ve been doing long distance since the spring semester ended in May, and between work and school, it’s been nearly two months since we last saw each other. Knowing it’ll be another two months until Christmas makes this trip feel even more special. The drive to the airport was quiet and calm, the kind of early morning silence that makes you feel like the world belongs only to you. Once I got through security and found my gate, I opened my laptop and dove straight into homework. It wasn’t exactly the most glamorous start to fall break, but I knew I’d thank myself later. My goal for this trip is to actually relax—the last thing I want to think about the next few days is school. As I was typing away, I couldn’t help but think about what Aggie shared in class last week...

College life is often described as a balancing act between academics and work. While those two areas deserve attention, the real challenge — and reward — comes from balancing everything else too: self-care, friendships and simply taking time to breathe. Schoolwork and jobs can quickly consume many hours of the day. Between classes, assignments, client projects and part-time shifts, it sometimes feels like my calendar fills up weeks in advance. Organization helps. I rely on my planner, sticky notes and Google Calendar to stay on top of deadlines and take care of business. But here’s the thing: school and work alone aren’t everything . Those are important parts of my college career, but I believe other areas of life should be prioritized just as much. It’s important to put myself first sometimes too. If I ignore my health, my energy crashes. If I skip out on friends, I burn out. That’s why I see self-care as just as important as academics or paychecks. Going to the gym is more tha...

 As I finish my third week of senior year, I can’t help but think, “Can it go by faster?” I know, I know. Last week I wrote a sappy blog about senior year and “soaking it all up,” and while that is true, I also can’t wait to start my life after college. I have always been the type of person who dislikes school and wanted to throw myself into adulthood at a young age. While not everything about being an adult is glamorous, like taxes and bills, other aspects entice me. First and foremost, I love money. I love money so much that I believe the song “That’s My Lady” by Baby Bash is one of the most romantic love songs ever written, because what could you compare a woman to that is more beautiful than money? Anyway, I work while I am at school so I can fund my shopping habit, and I would be lying if I said I never struggled to manage work with school. My biggest problem is that I prioritize working over schooling, which sometimes spreads me very thin. I work a lot, but I still have t...

  This past week I started my senior year of college, and I still can’t quite believe how fast time has gone. It feels like I was just moving into my freshman dorm, nervous and excited about what was ahead. Now I’m pulling up to campus for my last first day. People always say college goes by in the blink of an eye, but I don’t think I truly understood that until now. Walking into classes this week carried a different kind of energy. In past years, the first week was about finding classrooms, buying the right textbooks and settling into new routines. This year, though, there’s an added layer of nostalgia and anticipation. Every first is also a last—my last first syllabus week, my last first icebreaker introductions, my last time setting up a schedule that only lasts one more year. Part of me feels like I should have everything figured out by now. The reality is, I don’t. College has been full of surprises, challenges and opportunities I never could have predicted. I know this ye...

 As my first blog back, I thought I would walk you through my very hectic last month of summer. On Aug. 2, my mom told me she was moving in 30 days. She was very excited about it, and I also thought it would be fun. However, I quickly realized that I was leaving for Florida on Aug. 13 and moving back to school almost immediately after returning. That meant I had about a week and a half to go through everything I owned. It’s also important to note that I am not moving back home after I graduate in May — I’m moving to Florida. So it wasn’t as simple as packing and moving my things. It was a cleanout of everything I owned. I don’t know how I managed to get it done, but by the time I left for Florida everything of mine was already pitched or packed. I then, thankfully, went on to have the most relaxing vacation. My boyfriend and I are long distance — he lives in Florida — so we decided to have a little getaway before we both begin our last years of school. Naples Pier, FL We went t...

              After finishing reading Stukent’s textbook, Essentials of Social Media Marketing, for class, I feel a bit indifferent in regard to the book. I thought there were both pros and cons to the book and the information it provided. Depending on the audience, the book could be useful or useless.             On the plus side, I did think the book was very good for beginners and considering it was a principles class, that made sense. The book was almost like a social media for dummies, it explained all the concepts and platforms in a way that was very easy for anyone to understand. The PowerPoint slides provided also made it exceptionally easy to follow along in class. I also thought that the “by the numbers” portions of each chapter helped with learning those facts because it was in one big graphic instead of simply in paragraph format.        ...

Over the course of this semester, I have worked on and completed a simulation internship for my social media class. The ‘simternship’, as Stukent calls it, was comprised of 12 rounds that were broken up into four sections. With each section containing three rounds, the sections consisted of the following: organic social posts, paid social posts, social media influencers, and the combination of all three at once. During the first three rounds of the simternship, I did not do as well as I would have liked with organic posts. I tried to keep the number of posts and money spent on media for posts fairly equal between platforms. This tactic did not play out too well for me because some platforms did not generate as much revenue as I had spent on media for them. However, I gave myself some grace because it was still early-on, and I wanted to allow myself to learn which platforms perform the best and which ones I should optimize more throughout the rest of the simulation. So, when it came t...

                         As the final weeks of the spring semester drag on, the boredom of endless assignments and exams has me anxiously waiting for summer freedom. The thought of waking up without the burden of early classes, tedious homework and stressful deadlines becomes an increasingly tempting fantasy. I can almost taste the refreshing lemonade, feel the warm sun on my face and hear the laughter of my friends as we enjoy the long, lazy days. The thought of trading textbooks for beach reads, pencils for pool floats and classrooms for backyard barbecues fills me with excitement. Although I know there are still a few weeks, my mind has already wandered to the carefree bliss that awaits on the other side.                Each day, I find myself counting down the few weeks that remain until the glorious summer break. The relentless grind of classes, assignments and ...

                 The Social Dilemma serves as a wake-up call about the perils of social media. The film shines a light on how these platforms, driven by a relentless pursuit of user engagement and data monetization, have become powerful tools for manipulation, addiction and the amplification of harmful content. It forces us to grapple with the unsettling reality that our digital lives are shaped more by algorithms than our own free will. The testimonies of former tech insiders reveal the industry's calculated strategies to hijack our attention, exploit our psychological vulnerabilities and sow division for profit. As we become increasingly entangled in these digital webs, The Social Dilemma urges us to critically examine our relationship with social media and demand greater transparency, accountability and ethical practices from these influential corporations. The film serves as a call for individuals, policymakers and tech leaders to co...

                 TikTok has undeniably redefined the way society consumes and interacts with content in the digital age. The platform's user-generated short videos have revolutionized entertainment, reshaped societal trends and influenced culture. With its addictive algorithm that tailors content to each individual, TikTok has captivated a vast audience, transcending age, gender and geographical boundaries. This diverse user base has led to the rapid propagation of trends, sparking conversations and shaping popular culture in real-time. Additionally, TikTok has become a cornerstone of social activism, amplifying voices on critical social issues and driving meaningful change through viral challenges and campaigns. The app's influence is a testament to the shift in societal dynamics, marking a new era of cultural impact driven by user-generated content. In recent years, TikTok has seen an unprecedented surge in its user base, indicating ...

               YouTube is a popular video-sharing platform that has revolutionized the way we consume and share content. It has become a hub for creators to showcase their talent, businesses to promote their products, and individuals to connect with a global audience. There are individuals who have gained popularity by creating content on YouTube. They cover a wide range of topics, from comedy and beauty to gaming and education. Anyone with a camera and a passion can become a YouTuber! They connect with their audience through their unique personalities, creativity and relatability. Many YouTubers have built loyal fan bases and even turned their channels into full-time careers. YouTube has had a massive impact on the traditional entertainment industry. It has disrupted the traditional model of content creation and distribution, allowing creators to bypass traditional gatekeepers and reach a global audience directly. This has forced th...

               LinkedIn is a social media network for professionals that was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman who believed people needed a platform to take control of their professional lives. The platform grew rapidly, reaching 1 million professionals by 2004 and 10 million by 2007. Later, LinkedIn was bought by Microsoft in 2016 for $26.2 billion. Today, it is the world’s largest professional network as it has over 900 million users in more than 200 countries. It is a place for professionals to join to connect with one another, stay up to date and apply for jobs. The app provides an opportunity of advancing your career by making it easier to interact with businesses, customers, employers, colleagues and potential employees.             The network has 745.84 million monthly users, with males making up 57% and females 43% of their user population. It is the number one channel for B2B ma...

               On Friday, March 22, Ohio Northern University’s PRSSA hosted its annual Social Media Workshop. The day started with hearing from the keynote speaker before breaking to begin the first session of the workshop. The workshop was split into four blocks, with each session having two speakers presenting simultaneously – one speaker would be in the Activities Room while the other in the Bear Cave.              Amy Hertsenberg, the keynote speaker, gave what I found to be one of the most interesting presentations. She discussed all things AI – the powers of AI, how she uses it as a tool in her work, how we can use it, how it is changing the way we work, etc. Hertsenberg puts an emphasis on the idea of ‘hyper-personalization’ using AI technology throughout her presentation. This idea stems from the fact that AI has changed the way we gather information of a customer base. Thi...

              Snapchat is a fun and interactive social media platform where users can send ‘snaps’, which are pictures that you can set a time limit for how long they are viewed, back and forth with one another. That’s not all though! Snapchat had added many features to the app since it was first launched in 2011 as ‘Picaboo’ and then revamped a few months after into what we know it as today. The platform allows users to post ‘snaps’ to their story that disappear after 24 hours, video chat and call with other users, play around with live filters, create group-chats, save snaps to your memories for later, and more.  The platform has over 750 million monthly active users, is the 10 th most popular social media platform, and has generated $4.6 billion in ad revenue. Its customer base is primary female, making up 51% while males account for 49% of the user population. The daily average for the app is only 21 minutes which surprised m...

X, previously known as Twitter, was originally created with the intent of being an SMS based communications platform where people can stay updated on each other’s lives by posting status updates. The app was first launched in 2006 and by 2012 it had grown to over 185 million users. Ten years later, Elon Musk bought the platform for $44 billion and in July of 2023 the site’s name was changed to X. Along with the name, Musk made other changes to the app including allowing the return of previously banned accounts. Musk makes it evident in the media that he is an advocate for free speech and wanted a platform that was a place for free commentary.                After deterring from the popularly known name, Twitter, to X there was an uproar of confusion among users. The features in the app coincided with the name and had an overall bird-theme to the entire outlet and so when the name was changed…did everything we know change? ‘Tweets’ are now sim...

"Instagram is the third most used social media platform". When I read this in Chapter five, I was honestly shocked. When I think of Instagram, I think of a collection of all social media outlets wrapped into one. Over the course of the app's existence, it has been constantly changing and adapting with the development of other outlets. It has always been a photo sharing outlet, similar to Facebook, but the platform has come a long way from the little beige polaroid icon it started as.  New features are constantly added keeping the app in competition with other social media. The story feature on the app reminds people of Snapchat; reels are like TikTok; the photo editing software is similar to VSCO; and the explore page is relatable to Pinterest, including the fact that users can save posts and organize them in different collections just as Pinterest does with their boards feature. And on top of all these features there is still more such as collage creation, boomerang vi...