Faye Oakey PR.

Today I received the official results from the first year of my BA Public Relations degree at Leeds Met, I’d like to take the opportunity to reflect on the past academic year, and note my aspirations for the future – both with regards to my career and personal endeavors.

Firstly, reflections on the year; some modules it appears I’m much stronger than in others. I managed to achieve two 1sts, and two very nearly 1sts, but my individual module results varied, weaker areas therefore affected my overall for the year. My lowest result was a high 2:2 though, so I’m not complaining. I propose to spend equal time next year working on those areas less interesting to me, as I do on my personal ‘favourites’, in order to achieve a more well-rounded qualification. I am happy to achieve an overall 2:1 this year, although I aspire to get much higher results in year 2, which brings me on to:

What I hope to accomplish throughout the course of my life…

• To graduate with a 1^st
• To visit at least one of the wonders of the world (I hope to do this this summer, I’m working on a plan to visit the Grand Canyon)
• To travel Europe
• To secure a good reputation within the PR industry through work experience, networking on and offline, and maintaining communications in the PR world
• Flip a pancake  
  
• Write a book
• Be on TV - either as a presenter or games show contestant - not too varied
• To leave a positive impression on the world, or those in it
• Go to Thailand
• To climb a mountain
• To meet the Queen
•  To be content and fulfilled, with the family I’ll have, and the career direction I take
• Get married
• Own a treehouse
• To maximise my potential creatively, and spend time on things I’m passionate about
• To travel America  This is something I always wanted to do, last year I spent the summer working at camp in Great Barrington in Massachusetts, during my time in the US I visited New York, Washington DC, Boston, Miami and Atlanta, as well as Six Flags in New England. This summer I’m in Fort Collins, Colorado spending time with my boyfriend who has a scholarship here, so far we have been to San Diego and Denver for trips, so my dream of travelling in America, most certainly came true. 
• Own a house, and make it a home
• Buy a puppy
• Go to Disneyland Florida – I’ve been to the Paris version
• Go to Fiji
• Work a year abroad in Australia or New Zealand
• Visit a zoo  Denver Zoo June 2012
• Ride a horse, or an elephant
• Go skiing
• Learn a second language (I’m working on this one, my boyfriends 1st language is Hungarian, so I’ve been studying a lot)
• Swim with dolphins
• See the White House  September 2011
• Stop biting my nails
• Go dragon boat racing
• Go to Mexico
• Become a blood donor (I’m terrified of needles, so this is a huge one, but I’m determined.)

Now, I know this list may seem a little extensive, but I never said I wasn’t ambitious!

Last summer my travels in the US were momentarily halted by Hurricane Irene (see here). This resulted in a 3 day delay in which my friends and I waited in Atlanta for a rescheduled connecting flight to NYC; it didn’t cause too much upheaval, we decided to just enjoy exploring an extra destination. 

It seems I have unfortunate knack recently at experiencing natural disasters first hand. I’m currently spending the summer in Colorado, which I’m sure you’ll have seen on the news is experiencing a number of wildfire disasters.

High Park wildfire was caused by a lightening strike, and is 15 miles west of Fort Collins, where I’m situated. It is estimated that the blaze began on Saturday 9th June at approximately 5:54am, according to this helpful information website. Here is a recent map of the fire’s location:

It’s a hefty fire, estimated to spread across 87,284 acres of land, it has already destroyed 257 homes, and cost the state an estimated $33.5 million so far. 

I’m staying one block away from Colorado State University, which is where Larimer County set up the disaster recovery center on 15th June, where we can see the Red Cross assisting the evacuated, an insurance helpdesk, and a media center.

I’m lucky that I’ve not been directly affected by the fire, the area I’m in seems quite safe. Although when the winds are high a thick smoke envisages the city, on one occasion, 17th June, ash was falling around us, which really hits home how close we are to this disaster. See some images taken that day on our mobile phones from CSU campus:

The fire is still very visible, we can see smoke coming over the mountains everyday, the following are images taken on the 23rd June, from close to the City Park Pool. We also noticed that the community had rallied around in support of those whose homes have been destroyed, offering donations, in the form of childrens toys and clothes. 

The local river has even turned black due to ashes, see here. There is however, optimism that the fire will be tackled by 15th July, with 75% containment so far, well done to the 1313 personnel helping to work against it. Well wishes to all those affected by the blaze. 

Update: President Obama today visited Colorado following the issue of a disaster declaration; this allows for federal funds to be used against the damage for local relief efforts.

Booker T Washington

Please see my portfolio of development, which aims to follow my progress as I develop PR skills in five main areas; creativity, presentation, organisation, writing and management.

My current experience ranges from working as Account Executive / “Curator of Good Noise” at creative agency Two Birds One Stone; the youth division combining Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger and Magpie Comms, to writing for online student newspaper The Met Online, and organising charity events and other independently.

http://fayeoakeyprportfolio.wordpress.com/

On this website you will find not only my achievements from my first year studying BA Public Relations at Leeds Metropolitan University, but my CV, contact information, and links to other social media platforms with which I engage; Twitter, Linked In, Pinterest and Facebook, and of course Tumblr (here) and Wordpress (portfolio). 

The Met Online was launched in February this year and has since become a roaring success for students of Leeds Metropolitan University, which is why I was eager to get involved.

Recently I’ve been given the opportunity to write features; firstly an informative piece about what’s on at Leeds Grand Theatre and secondly I was invited to attend the press event for a production at the Theatre for Nicholas Wright’s Travelling Light and write a follow up review.

All great experience for me in terms of networking, and improving my writing skills. Hurrah!

Follow the link to see what we’ve got going on over there.

Can’t stop watching this #teamwork