Student'Finds'Her'Passion'In'Hometown'

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After'spending'a'term'in'Madrid,'Spain,'in'her'second'year'at'Cape'Breton'University,'Holly'was'
ready'for'a'change.'Unsure'about'what'to'do,'Holly'finished'her'Bachelor'of'Arts'in'English'and'
began'looking'for'other'options.'Holly'discovered'the'Public'Relations'Advanced'Diploma'
program'at'Nova'Scotia'Community'College.'
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I'always'had'a'passion'for'writing'and'I'knew'I'wanted'a'career'that'wouldnt'have'me'at'a'desk'
nine'to'five,'the'fast'paced'changing'environment'of'PR'sounded'like'it'was'the'right'fit'for'me.'
The'program'appealed'to'Holly'as'it'was'one'year'and'required'a'sixNweek'work'term'in'order'to'
graduate.'Holly'felt'the'work'term'would'allow'her'to'gain'experience'in'a'real'working'
environment,'giving'her'a'leg'up'over'others'entering'the'workforce.''
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The'program'turned'out'to'be'more'than'just'a'means'to'a'career'for'Holly,'she'has'found'her'
passion'through'NSCC.'Its'hard'not'to'love'a'program,'that'has'so'much'freedom'in'what'you'do'
your'assignments'on,'whats'not'to'love'about'building'skills'around'a'topic'you'are'already'
passionate'about.''
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Holly'is'referring'to'the'ability'to'choose'topics'for'assignments,'that'are'direct'interest'to'
students.'For'example,'each'student''was'required'to'complete'a'marketing'plan'for'an'
organization'in'the'community.'Holly'chose'the'Cape'Breton'Regional'Library,'for'many'reasons.'
I'had'worked'in'the'CBU'library'during'my'undergrad,'I'love'books'and'learning,'and'I'felt'that'it'
was'an'organization'that'could'actually'benefit'from'my'project.'Being'able'to'help'organizations'
is'another'aspect'of'the'program'Holly'enjoys,'since'it'offers'real'experience'prior'to'her'work'
term.'
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Hollys'class'had'very'real'experience,'when'they'were'asked'to'create'and'run'Facebook'ads'for'
Marconi'Campus.'This'project'was'thrilling'because'I'had'full'control.''From'the'research'stage'
to'analyzing'the'results,'the'campaign'was'all'mine,'obviously'I'had'to'have'approval'from'my'
instructor,'but'that'just'made'it'so'much'more'like'real'life.''
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The'project'required'Holly'to'create'a'Facebook'ad'to'entice'potential'NSCC'students'to'view'the'
Marconi'Campus'Facebook'page.'Holly'did'the'photo'and'design'work'for'the'ad'and'cover'photo.'
She'also'wrote'and'scheduled'her'posts'for'the'week.'Finally,'Holly'monitored'the'Marconi'
Facebook'page'closely,'and'analyzed'the'number'of'likes'the'page'gained'as'well'as'how'many'
clicks'her'ad'received'during'her'week.'
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As'her'program'wraps'up'the'feeling'is'bittersweet,'with'a'small'class'size'the'students'will'miss'
one'another,'but'they'feel'prepared'and'excited'about'getting'into'the'workforce'and'starting'
careers.'Holly'hopes'that'the'skills'and'knowledge'she'has'gained'through'her'experience'at'
NSCC'will'help'her'as'she'embarks'on'her'next'goal'which'is'to'receive'a'Masters'in'Public'
Relations.''The'most'promising'thing'about'public'relations'for'Holly,'PR'allows'me'to'work'in'a'
career'that''helps'me'give'back'to'the'community.'

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