My PR Story Part3
WHAT Made Me the PR Professional I am Today
It is the fall semester of my junior year of college and as you’ve read in parts one and two of my story, I have picked my Public Communications major for serious FOMO (fear of missing out) reasons and I’d just come back from my adventures in London having survived the worst internship ever. I didn’t want to have anything to do with Public Relations. I was determined to change my major as soon as possible.
Every fall, American University held a volunteer fair where you could talk to organizations who were looking for volunteers. My roommate picked up a brochure to be a White House volunteer and I picked up a brochure for the Smithsonian Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer program. My plan going into the interview was to ask to be placed as a volunteer at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. It had always been my favorite museum and I loved American history. My interview with the Volunteer Coordinator went really well. She was especially impressed with my recent London internship experience (ha!). “We’d love to have you, Amy. Now, let’s see where we can place you.” I told her that I’d like to work at the National Museum of American History. “Well, they don’t have any openings right now but what about the National Air and Space Museum? I see here that you are a PR major and they happen to have an opening in the Public Affairs Office at Air and Space.” UGH! Planes? I knew nothing about planes except for the fact that I think I got third place in a contest in Mrs. Duke’s 6th grade science class where we had to make planes out of balsam wood. (Which made the local newspaper by the way!) Planes and Public Affairs!?! “I’m not sure that’s the right place for me actually,” I told the kind lady. She smiled. “Why don’t you give it a try. Go meet with them and if it doesn’t work out, come back to me and we’ll place you somewhere else. But, I really think you’re going to like this office.”
My first day at the National Air and Space Museum started with a meeting with my new supervisor, Mike Fetters, Assistant Director for Public Affairs. He handed me a folder that included recent press releases, media calendars, and brochures for upcoming programs. He had typed up an agenda for me for the day. At the top of the paper it said, “Welcome Aboard, Amy!” My agenda for the day was to go around and spend time with each team member and learn more about what they did. Also, on my first day’s schedule was “lunch with the office.” Oh, my heart. Remember this is the girl who just ate lunch alone in Victoria Station for every day of her internship for four long months. I had only been there 5 minutes and I was already smitten with my new work family. I spent the day going around and visiting each of my new co-workers. I still remember the warm and welcoming feeling of that day. Despite being very busy people, my meetings with each staff member were genuine and they took their time to talk to me. They were kind, welcoming, and so excited to share and talk to me about their jobs. They also really wanted to get to know me. By the time I left, I already knew more about them and the work that they did than I had learned in 4 months at the London PR firm.
Over the next few months, I learned so much about Public Affairs, the museum and the artifacts in the collection. I loved every minute! I took my volunteer job very seriously. I was always on time, never missed a day, and was the first to volunteer for extra work. Mike and the rest of the staff were amazing mentors. They were kind, inclusive and so much fun. Their enthusiasm was contagious and I wanted to be a great co-worker because of it. They took me to meetings with them and soon I was also being asked by other departments to help them too. I felt like an official member of the museum team.
After I had watched and asked questions for a few months, Mike asked me if I wanted a project to complete on my own. Of course I did! The project he gave me was the White Wings Paper Airplane Contest. (Remember that 6th grade contest, ironic right?) I did everything he had taught me. I put together a press kit, made a media list, and then spent hours faxing my media advisory and making follow up calls. I left the office on my last volunteer day before the contest with this nervous feeling whether all of my hard work was going to pay off or not. Would any press come to the event? It was a feeling that I would have many more times in my life and one that all PR professionals are very familiar with. I got to the museum on the day of the contest and everyone in my office was running around like crazy. They filled me in on what had happened the last 24 hours while I was on campus in class. The phones had been ringing off the hook and we were expecting a huge turnout of journalists. The museum’s Education Department had been busy all morning with live interviews because of my outreach. Our Education Director was on the Today Show. Other education staff were giving demonstrations on local morning shows. CNN had called, so had The Washington Post and the Associated Press. In just a couple of hours, the museum would be welcoming a giant turn out for the event. Sure enough, we had local, national and international coverage that day. It was an amazing day! It was the 1994 version of “going viral.”
I remember at the end of the event hopping into the elevator with Mike to head upstairs to our office. He was smiling and I’d like to think he was a bit proud of his new protege.
“Wow!” I said, “That was so much fun! And that was easy! I can do this! I can do PR!” I was so excited and so proud of myself. Mike giggled. Of course he knew what I didn’t. It was a slow news week. I HAD done the hard work but you never know with media relations. It totally could have gone in the other direction.
That day was a huge turning point for me. Even now, when people ask me about my career in PR, it is scenes and feelings from that day that flash before my eyes. I was just six months into my volunteer job and I could tell that this was going to be a place where I could learn and grow. And I did. I continued to volunteer at the museum for another year. Two months before graduation they offered me a job and I transitioned from volunteer to employee.
I left the Public Affairs Office over 20 years ago but my National Air and Space Museum family still means the world to me. I often think about that volunteer interview and the kind smile the lady gave me. She totally knew what she was sending me into. I have tried my best with my own interns over the last 20 years to be more like Mike and less like the London PR firm.
I think because of my own story I have always been fascinated by the journey people take in their careers and where those paths lead them.
One of my favorite quotes is by Oprah Winfrey, “I believe luck is preparation meeting opportunity. If you hadn't been prepared when the opportunity came along, you wouldn't have been lucky.”
I also believe that in addition to being prepared you have to recognize the opportunity. I was prepared for the opportunity when it came but also, after the London PR firm experience, I recognized what a rare opportunity it was to work with people who were willing to provide a nurturing environment where I could grow professionally. Even if you’re prepared you still need to spot the opportunity when it comes your way. I am so thankful that I was.
