This summer, I went to my first and second conferences, both in New York City. I don’t live very close to NYC, so it was fun to have some excuses to visit the Big Apple. The biggest events of my summer occurred within two weeks of each other, and as much as they had similarities (like speeches, location, and food), the differences were extreme. Each conference educated me in different aspects of varying industries, while speaking about similar topics such as marketing and consumers.
The first conference I attended was Her Conference from July 21st to 22nd. I went with my HCE Team and we had a blast. I got advice on how to run our chapter to the best of my abilities, while improving the involvement of all the HCE members. I networked with speakers about how to jumpstart my career in the public relations industry while not living in NYC. The conference was filled with delicious snacks, and an Ulta Beauty bar to get my hair done every day. My HCE team and I bonded and got to explore the city together, all while receiving advice as to how we can improve our chapter. Not only this, the people attending the conference all had similar interests and experiences, allowing us to talk about collegiate life together. I had a fantastic time and left knowing I was bettered from this experience.
The second conference I went to this summer was the IFMA Sales and Marketing Conference, which I was able to attend with my summer internship at a food service company. I listened to professionals in the industry discuss how to improve food service companies, and the ways in which we can improve people’s daily lives through this industry. I was able to speak to with them afterwards, and they told me all about this immense industry, with its many different fields of work. After this discussion, I was so amazed that I asked about how I could become even more involved and transition into a food service career after I graduate!
Both the conferences I attended this summer gave me further insight into what I want to do with my communications degree when I graduate in May. They helped me realize that I should pursue a career in something I am truly interested in, and the steps I need to take to get there. I would advise anyone to attend any conference opportunity they are given. If you are at an internship, job, club, and are presented the opportunity to go to a conference, go. I learned more than I could have imagined just from listening to professionals speak about passionately about their many different careers.