My ultimate goal is to one day wear a tailored power suit and to be able to answer the phone saying 'talk to me, you've got ten seconds: GO'.
I have a strange love for politics and like talking A LOT so obviously I decided to study PR. What else eh? I've been seduced by the prospects of freebies in fashion and big budgets in consumer, but for some reason I just couldn't stop myself from jumping on the politics wagon.
I live in East London (dead arty farty) where everyone works in 'media' or 'arts media' or 'fashion PR' or 'music' or 'music PR' - you get the picture. So when I'm stood at a painfully cool Dalston bar, and I get that hipster with a big beard and plethora of illegible tattoos coming over to me with the 'so, basically., right, what I basically do is, I make art sculptures out of empty beer bottles in this totally amazing art space, and I'm like, a completely freelance journalist/PR/media guru BULLSHIT'…. and then the big Q: 'So… what do YOUUUUUU do?' I have this strange sense of superiority.
'Oh me?', I say. 'Oh I do PR, yah'. The hipster cracks a knowing smile.
'I do politics and PR actually'. The knowing smile disappears.
I want to work for 'the man'… they hate that in Dalston.
The hipster doesn't quite understand. So I elaborate.
I explain that the link to PR and politics is really quite strong, and that most people don't realise this.
Most of the things you read in the paper, that the MPs talk about in the commons, the campaigns that get the limelight in the media, that's all down to PR. Most MP's have a 'communications', (as they much prefer to be called) team around them, advising them on how to best communicate to the public, how to sound 'down with the kids', and how to use their image to their advantage.
Even social media is on the political radar, with Twitter and Blogging being a driver in the political world.
Social media - at least the hipster understands that part #nofilter #selfie.
So this is where I am wanting to wedge myself in.
I spent my summer at the Houses of Parliament doing an internship with the Chester MP, which was pretty amazing. Plus the food is flipping delicious. £4 for sea bass and honey roast potatoes with a white wine and butter sauce - *a ha, I think* - that must be where all that tax goes
I have also been getting involved in loads of canvassing at the CCHQ, and also campaigning for different London MPs.
… and thats another thing to think about, besides the dopey hipster by the bar, living in London is quite special. It's an amazing city that offers such opportunity. You can get involved in so much more, and really enrich your uni experience, it looks great on your CV. I'm from Hope in NW, teeny tiny village, so the prospect was pretty scary, but its easy to settle, you have to just grab it with both hands. The galleries, the landmarks, the transport, THE BARS/NIGHTLIFE. Buses ACTUALLY run on a Sunday, can you believe?
It's a really exciting time to think about politics as a career, with the general election coming up, there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved and build a really solid roster of experience and contacts.
And as for the PR world, its such an interesting industry to be a part of, as it binds together loads of great aspects, you've got to be creative (hipster understands this) organised, passionate and driven.
(also political PR is one of the better paid sectors, but shhh thats not really why I chose to focus on it… not one bit…no…)
So there you go, a brief history of moi, my hopes, my dreams, my passions - siiiiigghhhhhhhhh (vomit).
STEPH x
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