Beginning of My Journey at York University
With an idea about the transformative experience awaiting me, I started my academic journey at the York University School of Continuing Studies in January 2023. Being an international student, having mixed feelings of excitement and nervousness in the initial days wasn't surprising. Little did I know that the journey I had embarked upon would equip me with valuable skills, help me push my boundaries, explore my full potential, and fight challenges head-on, personal or professional. A journey of pure growth awaited me. However, it wasn’t without a heavy feeling of anxiety that I set foot on this journey. You see, I had initially planned on paying my fee in installments as I come from a developing nation with a fairly lower conversion rate in comparison to the Canadian Dollar. So, when I got to know that I had to pay the entire thing in one go, it made me feel the poorest I have in this lifetime. I did manage to do it in the end but somehow, that feeling of a super financial low took its own toll.
My First Program: Public Relations
It was a happy surprise to see myself learn Public Relations at York University quickly, a dynamic and extensive field. The areas covered under the course were relationship building, communication strategies and the art of storytelling. I realized that public relations goes far beyond designing alluring messages —it's about communicating and putting through messages that speak to diverse people and managing situations promptly and effectively.
First Step of Growth: Overcoming Challenges
My first assignment in this program was one of the most challenging yet enriching experiences. I had to interview different PR professionals in Canada, and as an international student, I was anxious about this task. Contacting strangers on LinkedIn, requesting interviews, handling rejections, and fighting with the fear of not being able to complete the assignment on time were all daunting experiences. However, this challenge helped me understand the significance of a crucial skill for survival in the PR world: Industry networking.
However, the one part of completing this assignment that really made me feel as if I was at my lowest was when one of my peers, who had requested to see my assignment to get a clever picture of what it entailed, ended up directly copying and pasting the same content to Moodle. I was still struggling with getting a hang of it, which in itself kept on giving me endless anxiety and I was taking my good time to do it perfectly. However, it really felt like a betrayal when they ended up doing so and I made sure that moving forward, I only shared it with my classmates after having uploaded mine first!
Supportive Professors Guiding Me Through The Challenges.
The support from my professors was instrumental in helping me navigate these challenges, especially Professor Leigh and Melyssa's guidance and encouragement, which have always eased my journey, constantly reminding me that growth often comes when we step outside our comfort zones. Their efforts in inviting experts and arranging discussion classes helped me overcome my stage fright.
The Next Milestone: Digital and Content Marketing
Once I completed my PR program, a profound sense of growth and achievement took over, and my curiosity and hunger for more knowledge increased. So, I decided to enroll in the Post-Graduate Certificate program in Digital and Content Marketing—a life-changing journey I couldn't wait to embark upon. What I was really looking forward to was to learn from a diverse set of peers and professors and increase the breadth of my global exposure to as much as I possibly could.
Real-World Skills and Practical Applications
The real eye-opening experience was with the Digital and Content Marketing program. At first, I was under the impression that it would be a beginner's course, but I was proven wrong as it was created for intermediate to expert levels. However nervous I might have been, this course pushed me to face the challenge and broaden my skill set further.
From search engine marketing to optimization, content creation, and scaling up marketing strategies, this program helped me explore the complexities of digital marketing. We scrutinized media consumption patterns across various devices, websites, and platforms and learned to harness this information to communicate effectively about products, services, and brands in this intricate ecosystem. We were introduced to sophisticated techniques and tools like user journey mapping and marketing automation.
One of the most critical aspects of this program was the focus on practical applications of this learning. I was assigned real projects that involved developing cross-platform content strategies and marketing campaigns. This hands-on experience equipped me to create a portfolio that presented my skills to potential employers in the best possible form.
Looking Back Upon My Personal Growth:
In today's constantly and rapidly evolving digital landscape, I was equipped with qualities essential for any marketing or PR professional throughout both programs. I learned various technical skills, such as prioritizing adaptability and strategic thinking. However, gaining access to a community of learners and teachers from all across the globe helped me sharpen my teamwork and leadership skills in a way I had never imagined before as such diversity isn’t something you see elsewhere. It helped me grow more resilient and adaptable and I even pushed my boundaries whenever I went out for a meal near the York University campus as it entailed talking to strangers and learning new things from them on almost a daily basis.
As I reflect on my journey, I can't help but feel amazed at how I have transformed from a nervous, underconfident overseas student who was constantly struggling with assignments into this confident person designing and crafting complex marketing strategies and PR campaigns. The challenges I faced in my early days of approaching PR professionals now seem to be important lessons.
Looking Forward To What The Future Holds:
With these courses, I feel prepared to pursue a career in PR and digital marketing. They have even inspired me to consider starting my own business, and I am sure that my extensive understanding of Canada's business ecosystem and the digital marketing skills I have acquired from these courses will help me with this decision as well.
The York University School of Continuing Studies was more than just an academic journey for me. It has been a journey of personal growth and transformation. As I get closer to the end of my current program, I am prepared to face the professional world's challenges.
My advice to those who are considering this path is to take the challenges as lessons, not hesitate to approach people, and, most importantly, trust your journey.
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