Update!

Hey everyone!!

So sorry for the lack of posts lately!  Lots of things have been happening on the job front and I haven't been talking about them because I don't want to get my hopes up.  But I promise that as soon as I know something I will blog about it!!!


I'm off to Auburn for the weekend!


WAR EAGLE!!!!!!

This Month's Gunna Be a Good Month!

It's hard to believe that September is upon us. I believe this month will bring forth great things for me!

1) Auburn football kicks off in the season opener this Saturday at 7pm in Jordan-Hare Stadium! I'm sure the 87,451 capacity stadium will be packed.  Students and Alums alike will being tailgating early Saturday morning as they prepare to cheer on the Tigers and our brand new QB! I can already feel the Auburn spirit in the air and as much as I wish I could be down to watch the game in person, I'm okay with sitting in the air conditioning and not buying $9 water. (This pic is from my first ever Auburn game back in 2006!)

2) I can feel the subtle hints of FALL!!! I'm pretty pumped about entering into my favorite time of year! Fall and Winter are my absolute favorite seasons.  At night we've been able to open the back porch and feel the cool breeze which unfortunately fades once the sun comes up.  I'm ready for long sleeves, scarfs and sweaters :-)


3) Of course I have to mention the job hunt.  It's been a difficult few weeks to say the least but nothing good ever comes to those who don't try.  And I've been putting 110% into this and I would be lying if I said it wasn't discouraging to not hear back from people.  Which brings me to something I have never been able to understand. (If you are reading this and have some insight other than that they are just busy please comment.) Why is it so hard to email someone back? I understand if we have never made contact before but what about the people who email you back one time and then never answer you again? Was it something I said or didn't say? I don't know.  If you filled the position that you were talking to me about, would you please just let me know so I'm not still hoping for you to call with an offer? (Also...this isn't complaining-I'm honestly just curious!)

So now  you all can safely assume that lack of communication is a major pet peeve of mine.  But I know that not all people are like me so I'm doing my very best to stay patient.  


Again, I would like to thank everyone who continues to give me encouragement during this time.  


It will all pay off in September!! This is MY month and I couldn't be more determined!!


War Eagle!!!!!!!

Happy 1st Anniversary #PRStudChat!

Using Twitter to network has been my site of choice these last few months.  I love so many things about it but one thing I really love are the chats.  #PRStudChat started one year ago and has helped numerous students, professionals and professors in the PR world connect in a way that is simply fabulous! 

I've thoroughly enjoyed chatting with people from across the country and even people overseas! 

Tonight there were more than 200 participates that added up more than 2,000 tweets in only one hour!! How amazing is that?  Special guest Jimmy Wales (founder of Wikipedia) joined in the chat tonight as well.  

There were six questions asked tonight and now I will ask you the same ones.  What are your opinions/answers on these questions?

-Q1 How do professionals who represent a brand participate on Wikipedia?

-Q2 As a source, where does Wikipedia fall on the trust barometer?

-Q3 What other platforms are great for student learning/community collaboration?

-Q4 What do you do if you see negative and/or incorrect information on Wikipedia?

-Q5 Do you think social media blurs the lines for students in the Digital Age? See NYT article: bit.ly/asLtCN

-Q6 What advice do you have for today’s students on how to make the most of social media?    

Great questions that led to creative and insightful conversations.  A major shout out to Valerie Simon for being so involved in #PRStudChat along with #HAPPO! You're amazing Valerie!

Join in the chat and you won't be disappointed!!!   

New Chapter...New Blog Title!

So if you haven't taken notice to the new name, allow me to introduce it! This is the third chapter of this blog and man has it evolved! I decided to title this one "Graduate Confidential" ( I felt "Give me a job PLEASE" was a little too in your face...haha) and I'm excited to share this time that I'm in limbo with you all.

I'm praying that this blog chapter doesn't last long and that it turns into something more along the lines of "Employed".  But until that day happens, I'm excited to write under this title.  


I've been officially an alum for 8 days now and I when I was back at Auburn last week for my goodbye visit I definitely got a reality check.  I wanted to go back to say goodbye to all my friends but more specifically my sorority sisters.  For those who don't know, I'm a proud sister of Kappa Alpha Theta and the years I got to spend in it where the best two years of my college career.  

Last week was rush week (or now the politically correct name-Recruitment) and it was extremely hard to see all my friends fb statuses about all being in the chapter room and all that jazz.  Walking into the chapter room after Prefs were over was like a huge slap in the face.  All my sisters were sitting there in beautiful black dresses and I was an outsider.  I no longer felt like I belonged there.  I felt old. Haha.

I'm so incredibly glad that I got the chance to stay for Bid Day and meet as many baby Theta's as I possibly could.  Until 10am on Saturday I could name every single person in my chapter and now there are 75 beautiful new little kites that I will never have the opportunity to get to know. 

Words don't even describe how proud I am of my Gamma Omega girls and all the hard work they have put in to getting a new pledge class.  Congratulations girls! 

It was sad leaving Auburn on Saturday afternoon but I'm very proud of myself for the small amount of tears shed.  I know I'll go back to visit soon but right now I need to stay away so that I can actually transition out of being a college student.  


I'm still emailing/researching firms every day and it's getting harder and harder to open my gmail to an empty inbox.  This will not get me down though! I will find a job and I will move to NYC!

And hold in memory as we do now, Thy cherished name!

It happened! I have officially graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and I couldn't be more excited! It hasn't really hit that I'm actually finished.  The day of graduation was completely surreal.  I kept looking around and thinking is this really happening? Am I really here? Has four years past already?

It was almost four years ago to the day that I moved into Dowell Hall on the hill at Auburn.  Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed the events that would happen over the next four years.  I have met my best friends, sisters and family here.  

My family took me to dinner on Sunday night to one of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta- Maggianio's- to celebrate graduation! It was so fun to have my parents, two sisters, Uncle Rick and Poppy here! 

Monday was a long day!! We drove to Auburn from Atlanta which meant an early day- especially since I always want to get places early! We got to Auburn around 11am and took a trip over to the Village so I could get a picture by the Theta chapter room.  Recruitment was in full swing so I waited as girls lined up to go into our chapter room.  The screams and excitement from Theta about made me burst into tears.  

After having lunch and giving a short Auburn history lesson to my Uncle and Poppy, we headed over to the Auburn Hotel to meet up with Vicki and Ashley plus their families! I'm so glad I got to graduate with two of my best friends from freshman year!

We took pictures and relaxed in the air conditioning until the graduates had to leave.  We had to be in the coliseum by 1:15 and thank goodness we left early because there was major traffic! We finally got there and found our seats within The College of Liberal Arts and waited for the ceremony to start.  

Then before I knew it, we were all standing and singing the Alma Mater- it was over. We'd done it! I made my way to get that hard earned diploma and then we made our way back to Atlanta for a delicious meal made by my dad! (And if you've ever had a meal by my dad then you understand how good it is!!) First item of business? Framing my diploma and hanging it on the wall! Second? Transforming my collegiate car into an alum car!

So now I'm back in Atlanta trying to come to terms with the fact that I'm an Auburn Alum.  As of now I'm still job hunting and still have my sights set on New York City! I'm being as patient as I can and I know that something will come along soon.  

Thank you so much to everyone who made my graduation an extremely special and unforgettable day!


Becoming an Auburn Graduate! War Eagle! from Amanda Pinto on Vimeo.

Moving Out and Onward

It's been a difficult and busy couple weeks! I officially moved out of my apartment in Auburn on the 27th and it was definitely an emotional day.  My dad came down to help me and within two hours all my memories were packed and ready to leave.  I went to check my room for the last time and completely broke down in tears.  

I always remember people telling me that I needed to enjoy my 4 yrs because they would be over before I knew it...and wow were they right.

I had the best 2 yrs at the Garden District and I am really going to miss it.  But when one door closes a new one always opens.  

After moving out that Thursday, I went back to Atlanta for a few days.  My youngest sister has had way too much fun going through my stuff and figuring out what she can have but hey, at least my stuff can have a home.  So now she has my mattress, headboard, painting and more.  

On Monday I got to help move my other sister into the Pi Beta Phi house at UGA and that was a lot of fun.  I didn't get the chance to move her in for her freshman year because of rush so I was really happy that I got to do it this year.  She and her roommate are now proudly displaying our awesome Sips n Strokes painting above their beds and they look fabulous!


I went back to Auburn on Tuesday to finish up my internship and it was weird being back.  Thank goodness I have the best friends ever and Vicki let me stay at her house while I finished up my job since I was homeless.  I really appreciate it Vicki!! 


Lastly-


I was featured yesterday on Lauren Novo's blog as the PR Job Seeker of the Week! It was so fun writing for it and I was so incredibly honored when she contacted me asking if I wanted to be a part of it!  Click here to go and read my feature!

2 days until graduation.  I'm really excited but I'm really missing my friends and Theta sisters right now. :-(  Lots to do before my Uncle and Poppy get into town tomorrow!

Short Update

Hey everyone! 

Sorry I haven't posted in a week! I promise I will have a more detailed one up shortly!! It's been a crazy few days with moving and getting ready for graduation but I'm going to try really hard to get something posted asap!

6 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!