The transition from the classroom to the real world is a threshold every student must cross.
We spend four years inside brick buildings filled with optimism and drive. Hours are spent learning from experts and honing our skills, but as we walk out these doors for the last time as undergrads, we leave behind a sense of security. Up until this point, everything we've done has had no real consequences.
Yes, poor performance might be met with bad grades, but that's it. Tests can be redone, classes retaken, but in life after college there's no safety net. Everything you do matters and the reality of it is, you're replaceable. If you can't do it well, someone else will.
That's where practicum courses come in. For PR majors at CWU, we have the Central Communication Agency - a student-run PR agency that manages multiple local clients every quarter.
Agency is as close to real world experience you can get before graduation. We're working with business owners and representing various companies. So if the objectives aren't met, it impacts more than just our grade because our adviser isn't the only one we have to answer to. When we set objectives with our clients, we are agreeing to use all of our knowledge, skills, and expertise to ensure that their needs are met. We are in a professional work environment where we have to come prepared to give it our all everyday because we know there are people counting on us to deliver quality content and results.
That kind of accountability prepares you for your career. The motto "C's get degrees" doesn't fly in the real world, because ultimately you're working on behalf of your client. Having an opportunity to gain experience like this in college is easily taken for granted. Having professional work to include in a portfolio and being qualified to add Assistant Account Executive on your resume really sets you apart from the competition.