Alayna Shamy works at Johnson & Johnson as a Corporate External Communication Specialist

During my time at Loyola, I was involved in many different clubs and activities. I was involved in the BSA Fashion show my sophomore year and was co-director of the show my junior year. I was also the treasurer of PRSSA my junior year and the president of PRSSA my senior year. Along with this, I was involved in the Loyola Council and was also copy chief of the Greyhound during my senior year.

Although my schedule in college was challenging while balancing school work, extracurricular activities and the normal college social life, it was all worthwhile and has benefitted me in my career. I graduated Loyola with a degree in Journalism and Public Relations and a minor in Marketing.

I used the skills I learned in my classes and the experiences I had from the activities I was involved with to successfully complete an internship at Johnson & Johnson the summer before my senior year of college. I was asked to come back to the company after I graduated and I have now transitioned into a specialist role doing Corporate External Communication. Along with this, I am also earning a master’s degree at New York University.

The professional world did live up to my expectations, but I was very realistic when graduating by understanding how demanding and challenging the real world is. I love that I was able to get a job in the area where my passion is: public relations. It’s extremely rewarding working for the world’s largest health care company and knowing that I’m making a difference.

The advice I would offer to students at Loyola is that college should be a fun time, but it’s also the time when you should be thinking about your future. The connections you make in college and the work you put in, not only academically, but professionally with activities and internships, will directly impact your future. You can’t start thinking about your career and your first job six months before you graduate, your entire college experience should be aimed at doing things that will benefit you in the long run and land you a job upon graduation.

Cover photo courtesy of:http://www.visualplanetllc.com/corporate_communications