Tag Archives: My Freshman Year of Life

On the Rise: Raven Robinson

Posted in On The Rise by

Industry: Public Relations

Hat: CEO of PR2Politics “The Firm that treats you Like a Candidate”

School: The City College of New York

Major:  Political Science

Raven Robinson

Raven Robinson

At the age of 23, Raven credits her determination to her hometown of South Bronx. It was through grassroots projects and volunteering for campaigns in her community that she was lead to her passion for both politics and public relations. To understand her hustle is to know this amazing woman’s story. With clients such as The Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention, Women Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN) and author of Epiphany Kendell, this PR maven is one whose name will be talked about for many years to come.Read more about her journey below.

Where were you five months after graduating from the City of College of New York?

I was a bit disappointed with how things were going. I had applied to every job you can think of, and I did not get a response back at all. However, when I realized that I wasn’t getting anywhere I started to look for opportunities and that meant asking for what I want. During that same time, I volunteered myself to a young lady who was running for Senate and did not have a Publicist. That’s when PR2Politics became my full-time job.

When did you create PR2Politics?

As President of the Public Relations Students Society of America (PRSSA) of my school, some of the e-board members requested that we kept up with the latest social media outlets, and twitter at the time was one of the must haves on the list.  It took me a quite a while to get acquainted with twitter, however, once I was there I wanted my name to be a brand, something that people could refer to when they needed PR advice. Pr2Politics was supposed to be my side gig, a place where I consult people while maintaining my “full-time” job. However, I’ve never imagined Pr2Politics being my career.

What does the phrase “My Freshman Year of Life” means to you?

My freshman year of life is the moment I became a self-starter and created my own opportunities, which meant doing something out of the norm. My freshman year of life took place the day after I graduated college, that was the wake up call for me. With all the internships I had throughout my college career, I literally thought that a job offer was waiting for me at the podium. That wasn’t the case. That’s when I realized I have to be a go getter to be successful in life.

Tell me about your latest projects?

I recently published my first workbook “Your Campaign: A Business Owner’s Guide to Understanding Public Relations: (Volume 1). It is a guide for those who don’t have any knowledge of PR and are looking to better their brand and their business’. I want to give people who can’t afford PR,  the tools necessary to promote themselves. Also, because I’m always looking for a way to better myself and my community this workbook is essentially my gift to the hood.

You’re the CEO of PR2Politics and a career advice writer for Sixincheshigher.com; how do you manage your time?

I work between 8 AM and  1 AM every day ( seven days a week) that’s the promise I made to myself when I started as an entrepreneur. It bothers me that we as humans we are always in a hurry to help someone else, but when it comes to ourselves we always procrastinate.

No matter how busy I might be, I make sure that I get to my bed by 1am. I use my time to do research, look for prospect clients, meditate, read my bible and attend meetings. With that being said, having a planner and a to-do list helps me organize my day.

When you’re not wearing your CEO hat, what do you do on your spare time?

I love to spend time with family, go out to eat and I attend Broadway shows.

What would you tell people who are unsure of which career path to follow?

Pray. If you’re not Christian, stay spiritually grounded. It can be tempting to do something that someone else is doing because they are successful at it. Not everyone has the same destiny; create your own path.

Also, I’m one of those who strongly encourages people to do everything, because you never know what will truly make you happy. However, it is best to work on 3 projects at a time, think of it as a college course. All skills are transferable.

If you were to write a letter to your younger self about being an entrepreneur, what would it say?

Dear 17-year-old Raven,

Save your money, all the items you spend your money on now (shoes,clothes etc.), won’t be worth a thing. As you grow wiser you’ll find out that saving even 10$ a month and having an investment account would’ve been beneficial to owning your business. Although you will be amazing, a little cash in the bank could have lessened some stress, but you’re a smart girl you’ll figure it out.

Sincerely,

Wiser Raven.

Stay connected with Raven

Website | LinkedIn | Twitter

 

How Can You Benefit from Volunteering?

Posted in Life after. by

Volunteer-App

As a young professional, it is very easy to get caught up in the 9 to 5 routine. Two weeks, after starting my new job, I felt empty… what was missing in my life? During a conversation with one of my girlfriend, she mentioned, “Aren’t you always volunteering somewhere? You should really get back to that.” She was right. I’ve probably clocked in more volunteering hours during my college career than the combined student bodies at both of the universities I attended. Of course, I am exaggerating, but you get the point.

Naturally, when a friend of mine mentioned her “Beautiiful” prom drive a couple of months ago, I immediately jumped on the opportunity to do what brings me the most joy; that is: helping, networking and being a social butterfly.

By deciding to participate in the prom drive, I joined a team of professional women from various industries. They included PR consultants, fashion stylists, makeup artists, bloggers,graphic designers, and events marketing specialists, among other professions. Together, our witty personalities, go-getter attitudes, strong work ethic, and personal strengths contributed to an environment shaped by an inherent focus on empowerment (of each other and of others), and actively pursuing the completion of our goal – organizing and hosting a pop-up prom shop for girls unable to afford the luxuries that accompany prom night.

Beautiiful Team

Beautiiful Team (L-R) : Jocelyn Pizarro, Nathalie Cazeau, Autumn Johnson, Amanda Clarke, Nicolette Tucker , Raven Robinson.

After four months of preparation, we were able to stage a successful prom drive on April 30, 2014, during which we displayed over 300+ dresses, donated by generous individuals who sought to invest in our mission.That night, we succeeded in helping 150 New York City area students find their dream prom outfit. The successful completion of this project not only helped forge a deeply-rooted bond among a group of aware young professionals, but it also reawakened in me the desire to help.

With that being said, you may be wondering what kind of benefits accompany volunteerism. Why should you should you volunteer? Below are four reasons why I think everyone should make an effort to H.E.L.P:

Have an impact! The thought of putting aside your wants and needs to bring joy to someone’s life or help a community in need speaks volumes. No matter the amount of time or effort you invest in helping, you are making a big difference. Find something you’re passionate about and get involved; volunteering offers a way to have a real and lasting impact.

Expand your network While organizing the Beautiiful prom drive, I have been interacting with individuals from various industries. Meeting people from all walks of life is one of the benefits you get from volunteering. You never know who you might meet and what new information you might learn that could impact your life.

Learn new skills Coordinating and planning a fundraising event can allow for the acquisition of budgeting, supervisory and training skills. The possibilities and opportunities are endless, and many of these skills are transferable.

Practice Balance Practicing balance is being reminded to be grateful for what you have. Too often we get lost in superficial things, especially when we enter the professional world. As a result, we miss out on opportunities to reach out and give back to the same communities that have shaped us.

Let me know how you are becoming more involve in your community. Be sure to  check out your local non-profits organizations and find out how you can assist them.

Follow me on Twitter: @NatDiary

Post College Cheat Sheet

Now what

 

The night of graduation, Kanye’s “Good Morning” played over and over in my head:

“Good morning, look at the valedictorian, Scared of the future while I hop in the DeLorean. Scared to face the world, complacent career student.Some people graduate, but we still stupid.”

Graduation, for me, was a bittersweet moment. I realized that stepping into the “real world” meant an alteration in my social life; no more late night hangouts, no more stints at the Bender Library, and a limited interaction with the friends I’d made here. Moreover, it meant that I had to prepare myself to embark on a professional and personal journey. Was I ready to “face the world,” as Kanye put it? Probably not, but I was willing to give it a try.

So, before the class of  2014 embarks on this post-college  journey, remember firstly that everything will be alright, remind yourself that everyday. Take a look at the “Post-College Cheat Sheet” that I’ve come up with (below).I can’t guarantee you that this cheat will be a quick road to success, but it will certainly help along the way.

Life is not meant to be easy, and  if it is you’re probably not challenging yourself.

Write yourself a letter.  ”Seeing your goal written in ink, on paper will have a powerful effect on your mind” – Unknown

Jotting down your goals or expectations of yourself can  be the road map to your successful journey. Whether you decide to write a self-reflection or just a simple letter emphasizing where you envision yourself  in the next week/month or year can be beneficial to your growth.

Value your time. This means that you should be wary of engaging in activities and with people who do not benefit your personal and professional growth. Time well spent with great company  is never wasted. So, yes; be picky with your time and in choosing your friends or new acquaintances.

Learn to forgive! It’s not easy, but it’s definitely worth doing. Learning how to forgive someone is the biggest gift you can give yourself. There is simply no value in holding grudges.

Network Upward, Downward and Sideways. Networking should be done across the board. You really don’t know where your next opportunity will come from. So  keep in mind the following:

– Connect with your peers and attend FREE networking workshops/panels within your industry.

– Keep in contact

–  Study your elevator speech like your life depends on it

– Let your passion speak for itself

– Create a LinkedIn account and familiarize yourself with the tool

Learn to embrace rejection. We often regard rejection as a sign of failure when in actuality it’s the universe way of telling you that ” you’re not ready”  or ” this is not the time.”   So don’t take it personal.

Save/Manage your money. If you haven’t been doing so, NOW is the time to start.There’s nothing more satisfying than knowing that you have some funds with which to support yourself or simply to fall back on.  Teach yourself how to save, schedule an appointment with a financial advisor. More information on financial planning coming soon.

Do things that make you happy!  I love music, museums, concerts and people! I am at my best when I’m surrounded by people who love and understand me.Find what makes You happy.

Stop comparing yourself to others.  Comparison is the thief of joy, just that simple. Focus on what you’re doing, what you have and trust me, you’ll be content.

Be Thankful! You might have a bad day, or the interview you went to didn’t go so well, but guess what you’re still alive and your family and friends still love and support you. Just remember to always keep your eyes on the prize.