Everything happens for a reason and then life continues

February 23 was a typical Monday evening. Around 5:15 p.m., I had just finished making dinner and preparing for a long night at Research B to work on grants for EcoCAR when my phone suddenly rang. To my surprise it was the State College Community Planner. A bit confused as to why I was getting this phone call after normal business hours, I picked up the phone and began my conversation. The State College Borough had decided to introduce a resolution to the Centre Region Government that evening to motion for March to officially become Census Awareness Month. One problem--the meeting was in two hours and we were expected to make a speech.

Many people would say to themselves, "I already have plans, is it really that important?" As a public relations professional, I  know the importance of devotion to all of the campaigns you are working on. Although, finishing my grants was relatively important, it was more important to finish the last week of Count Centre County's 2010 Census campaign very strong. I quickly hung up the phone and called my colleagues to inform them of the opportunity as I frantically sprinted to my closet to find a business casual outfit I could quickly change into.

Dressed and ready to go, I ran out of my apartment to make it to my 5:45 meeting to merely tell them I had to leave by 6:30 p.m. Knowing I still had to dig my car out of the snow before I could actually leave. At the Centre Region Government meeting, myself and Laura Peck, Director of Technology, spoke about the importance of the census and passing the resolution. After a quick question and answer session, the board passed it unanimously.

When an opportunity presents itself, it is important to take advantage of it because you never know what could happen. Without the ability to think on my toes and be extremely organized with my schedule, I would not have been able to take advantage of this chance. In my opinion, a public relations professional should be ready for anything that is thrown his or her way. After all, everything happens for a reason and then life continues.