All About Ashley

As the end of the semester is quickly approaching, I am beginning to feel more and more stressed. From the endless group projects, final exams, Capstone planning and presentations, the list goes on and on. I just wish there was more time in a day to take time for myself and complete all of my schoolwork. However, the world doesn’t work like that, so here I am writing my blog a couple hours before it is due. I often find that making lists and blocking off time in my calendar is the best way to get my schoolwork done. Here are a few other ways you can alleviate stress: Avoid Abundant Amounts of Caffeine - Swap caffeinated drinks for water, herbal teas or diluted natural fruit juices and aim to keep yourself hydrated as this will enable your body to cope better with stress. Indulge in Physical Activity - When you feel stressed and tense, go for a brisk walk in the fresh air. Try to incorporate some physical activity into your daily routine on a regular basis. Regular physical activity ...

Recently, I have been getting the question, “What would you like for your birthday and Christmas this year?” My birthday is December 16, which is nine days away from Christmas. Therefore, my Christmas list just becomes a list for my birthday too. Growing up my family has been great about keeping both my birthday and Christmas separate. But the challenging part is creating a list of everything I could possibly want for the year, because I really only get one chance. I have started my list, but still struggling to come up with enough items for my parents, grandparents and my boyfriend’s family. Here is what I have so far: Bombas Socks - Only about the best socks ever! These socks are so comfortable and the company’s mission is ever better. For every pair purchased they donate a pair to someone in need. How cool is that? Life Jacket - Call me crazy, but yes I would like a life jacket for Christmas. My boyfriend recently bought a boat with one of his friends and we went wakeboarding, wat...

Enneagrams are all the rage right now. If you don't know what an enneagram is, it is a system of personality typing that describes patterns in how people conceptualize the world and manage their emotions. The Enneagram model describes nine different personality types and maps each of these types on a nine-pointed diagram which helps to illustrate how the types relate to one another. To find your enneagram, you need to answer a series of questions honestly. Here is a link to a free test to help you find out which type you are. The test should take about 10-15 minutes. Once you have completed the test, your enneagram type will be revealed. There are nine different types. The test will score you on all nine and help you understand which you identify most with. In some cases, you may also closely identify with another type and that would be considered your “wing.” I am a type three, meaning that I am considered “An Achiever.” Here are some of my defining characteristics: Acutely awa...

Well, it’s official. I applied to my first job yesterday. Recently, I have been pondering where I am meant to be post-graduation. Should I work at an agency? Should I work at a corporation? Nothing seems clear. I like aspects of corporate, such as the structure, consistent environment and my time at Marathon Petroleum the past two summers has been enjoyable. However, I feel a slight draw to try agency life. I love the culture, flexibility and ability to serve so many different clients. Do you see my dilemma? Nothing seems crystal clear or a sign pointing at one over the other. I recently sat down with Michelle Olsen, president-elect of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) at the 2019 International Conference. We discussed my confusion and where I see myself working in the future. Michelle’s advice was simple, “Apply and interview at whatever seems interesting. You will know what is best for you based on the gut feeling you receive from interviewing and learning more about th...

This past weekend I traveled to San Diego, California for the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) International Conference. Let me tell you, IT WAS AMAZING! I am going to give you a play-by-play on what we did each day. Thursday, October 17 We traveled to San Diego, California. We flew out of John Glenn International Airport in Columbus, Ohio at 6:00 a.m. Yes, we woke up and traveled from Ohio Northern University at 3:00 a.m. Yes, we were very tired. Once we arrived in San Diego, California we went to La Jolla by the Sea, a coastline known for beautiful views. La Jolla was amazing and definitely had some of the most beautiful views I have ever seen. Here we explored, listened to sea lions bark and took in the amazing scenery with a drink at a local restaurant, Brockton Villa. For dinner we headed back to downtown San Diego, California to meet up with Dr. Aggie and Central Ohio Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) member, Kaitie Thomas. Friday, October...

Although we just got back from Fall Break, I am getting ready to jet-off to San Diego, California for the 2019 Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) International Conference. Here we network with various professionals in the field, meet PRSSA members from across the country and hear engaging presentations on all things public relations and marketing. Each year, the conference is held in a new location. I have attended the past four years. My freshman year the conference was in Indianapolis, Indiana. My sophomore year myself and 13 other students traveled to Boston, Massachusetts. This past year, my junior year has been my favorite so far. The conference was held in Austin, Texas and we also had the opportunity to visit Waco, Texas the home of Chip and Joanna Gaines from "Fixer Upper." With the conference being in San Diego, California this year, myself and four other PRSSA members are attending. We are all very excited to be visiting the sunny state of Californi...