Eight BYU-Hawaii students set out last month to learn about their career paths in digital communications for the first Strategic Communications Career Connect held in New York City, from June 7 through June 14. The Strategic Communications Certificate is new to BYU-Hawaii and this trip allowed students to experience first hand what careers lie ahead for them. The students, all from different backgrounds, but united by their interest in Communications, met with such advertising firms as the Case Agency, Media Kitchen and BPN, and learned how to work with non-profit organizations during a visit to the Michael J. Fox foundation. “It was an amazing experience to be able to meet people who are professionals in our field,”...
..stated Hector Periquin, an ICS Communications Major from the Philippines. Periquin, an avid photographer and graphic designer, continued to explain that he was interested in the creative side of marketing. The firms he visited delivered that, highlighting how integral the creative team is in the marketing industry. Talking about the experience, he said, “I honestly felt like there are so many things that I have to learn and experience. I also now have the strong desire to be part of those firms because of their amazing work.”
With only eight openings, the application process for the opportunity was highly competitive. Applicants were required to submit their own work in digital communications and writing samples. However, the rewards were substantial. From networking and career exploration, to sightseeing, the students were able to experience all that NYC had to offer. One of the highlights of the trip was to visit the LDS Department of Public Affairs, located in the Manhattan Temple structure. “It was a great experience. I learned a lot about how important it is for the Church to be ‘out there’ and show the world who we really are as Latter-Day Saints and what we do to contribute to help the people around us,” said Ronilo Banda, another ICS Communications major from the Philippines. Banda is studying to enter the advertising business after graduation. He added that, “Our New York trip also made me realize how competitive the world truly is when it comes to careers. Being here in Hawaii, we tend to be relaxed and feel comfortable about our job opportunities, especially since we know that we can always get a job at BYU-Hawaii or at PCC. But those companies that we visited in New York City made me understand how important it is to strive hard and really push ourselves to the limit so that we can get the jobs and the positions that we want when we finish school.”
With only eight openings, the application process for the opportunity was highly competitive. Applicants were required to submit their own work in digital communications and writing samples. However, the rewards were substantial. From networking and career exploration, to sightseeing, the students were able to experience all that NYC had to offer. One of the highlights of the trip was to visit the LDS Department of Public Affairs, located in the Manhattan Temple structure. “It was a great experience. I learned a lot about how important it is for the Church to be ‘out there’ and show the world who we really are as Latter-Day Saints and what we do to contribute to help the people around us,” said Ronilo Banda, another ICS Communications major from the Philippines. Banda is studying to enter the advertising business after graduation. He added that, “Our New York trip also made me realize how competitive the world truly is when it comes to careers. Being here in Hawaii, we tend to be relaxed and feel comfortable about our job opportunities, especially since we know that we can always get a job at BYU-Hawaii or at PCC. But those companies that we visited in New York City made me understand how important it is to strive hard and really push ourselves to the limit so that we can get the jobs and the positions that we want when we finish school.”