Work up. Measure up. Move up. Yesterday marks my third year being a part of the Yardsticks, a college creative advertisement competition open to all colleges. Last night the competition was held in the gorgeous ballroom at the Amway Grand Hotel in Grand Rapids, MI. Over the course of the three years I have lived in Grand Rapids, I have played three roles in Yardsticks as a competitor, audience member, and this year a volunteer. Each year I continue to be blown away with the creativity and innovative ideas presented by college students. From traditional to social media the range of opportunities are endless in this competition. This year the client was The Hotel Kitchen a company connected with the Amway Grand creating gourmet dressings and sauces to create top notch dishes in your own kitchen. I got to cheer on a lot of good friends in this years competition and watched 3 of them win the final round with provided them the chance to work with The Hotel Kitchen in creating one campaign that will launch near April.
The Yardsticks competition is an awesome opportunity to work with a real client, real deadlines, and receive real feedback from the pros of Grand Rapids. When I competed two years ago I didn't make it to the final round but the motivation and drive I walked away with is something I might not have learned if I was just handed the chance to win. It was my first year in advertisement with only one class under my belt, I jumped both feet into a competition I knew nothing about. It was a risky chance for failure and possibly embarrassment but I geared my mind in a learning environment. And through the experience I gained so much insight in the field of both Advertisement and Public Relations that is helped shape the avenue I am on today. The support from Grand Valley professors and opportunities to participate and simply attend events such as Yardsticks makes students one step closer to a successful career. Congrats to all of those who participated this year, it takes a lot of confidence to put yourself out there and showcase your work to the public. Now I am feeling more prepared than ever to give my pitch at Yardsticks 2015. #MeasureupGR
The Yardsticks competition is an awesome opportunity to work with a real client, real deadlines, and receive real feedback from the pros of Grand Rapids. When I competed two years ago I didn't make it to the final round but the motivation and drive I walked away with is something I might not have learned if I was just handed the chance to win. It was my first year in advertisement with only one class under my belt, I jumped both feet into a competition I knew nothing about. It was a risky chance for failure and possibly embarrassment but I geared my mind in a learning environment. And through the experience I gained so much insight in the field of both Advertisement and Public Relations that is helped shape the avenue I am on today. The support from Grand Valley professors and opportunities to participate and simply attend events such as Yardsticks makes students one step closer to a successful career. Congrats to all of those who participated this year, it takes a lot of confidence to put yourself out there and showcase your work to the public. Now I am feeling more prepared than ever to give my pitch at Yardsticks 2015. #MeasureupGR