The beginning of the end... or is it?

Wow, I didn't realise it had been so long since I last blogged on here!

Well quickly to catch you guys up this is what has happened so far:

- I've been working hard over the summer on my dissertation research
- I started third year of university
- I got a first for my dissertation proposal
- I got a first for my presentation skills exam
- I've submitted two additional assignments in the last two weeks which I will hopefully get the results from soon.
- I have no more assignments in now for 2013!
- I'm currently just working on my dissertation literature review and methodology and also other assignments for additional modules.
-I've also been working on the Bucks First PR team and have helped to organise two conferences (Oct & Nov) at the university for PR, Ads and Marketing students.
- Also, I started my one day a week internship at the beginning of November at Eyes Wide Open, where I interned this summer just gone and summer last year too.

So firstly, I'll start with my internship. I love it! If I'm honest I'm actually a little disappointed every Tuesday morning when I have to go into university rather than back into the EWO office! It's great working on a variety of small projects during my one day a week there, getting to know what sorts of things the clients require, how the work is carried out and even sitting in on meetings and team discussions is all great experience and I feel is helping me to form a more rounded opinion of what my working life could potentially entail! Bottom line= best decision ever and I appreciate the opportunity so so much! My favourite thing at the minute is writing blogs; I love to write as I'm sure I've mentioned in previous posts but I feel like it's such a great thing I have, to be able to write and capture people's attention with my words.

University is also going well- albeit slightly scared I literally have 6-7 months left! With so much work to do I am questioning if 6-7 months is long enough, but feel because I acted upon a very wise person's advise to start my dissertation over the summer, I'm on top of things and it feels great! I won't name and shame that person but if they're reading this, they will know who they are- thank you! I'm on a first streak at the minute with two under my belt for this year- not wanting to jinx it but desperately hoping and trying to keep this trend up!

With regards to my dissertation without giving too much away at this moment, I'm basing it upon the High Street/ shopping destinations and how PR and Marketing can be utilised to help this sector of retail. It's exciting with so much material available it's difficult to know where to draw the line! But I'm confident I will get there! Just must keep on top of it all and that's my primary number one goal this year- plan, plan, plan!!!

Along with all the exciting university/ career news going on, it's my 21st birthday in less than a month now and also Christmas is fast approaching. With the submission of my last 2013 assignment I feel I can finally start to get in the festive mood and start buying Christmas presents!

Watch this space for more updates and news!

Remember- I value your opinion on topics I may blog about within the Marketing & Business sector so feel free to comment on the posts or tweet me @CFlitney. Alternatively you can also find me on LinkedIn!

Back in Business!

Apologies for it being so long since my last blog posts (the past three months have flown by)!

So what's new?

- Passed second year of university with a 2:1
- Been on a lovely two week holiday to Tennerife
- Started a four week placement at a company I also interned for last year, feels great to be back!
- Started my dissertation already to get ahead of the game
- Signed up to become part of the Bucks' PR Student conference and event team, so exciting extra curricular    activity there.
- Had a lovely break but my final year of university starts in roughly two weeks!

It's full steam ahead right now, with lots of exciting stuff to look forward to and and more blog posts to document the year ahead!

Currently my placement is my time filler. I've been there three weeks now and I'm absolutely loving being back in the office, everyone is so lovely there. Although I'm working on a database project, which isn't the most exciting, I'm loving the experience of being within a company and learning something new everyday about how the company works and being a part of it right now! This week is my last week and I really don't want to leave, I'm enjoying myself too much!

My dissertation research has taken a slight back seat since starting my placement but I'm feeling confident my research is taking shape, I'm getting my contacts together and know what I need to do next!

I got briefed properly today on my task being a part of the newly formed Bucks' PR Student conference team. It's exciting and great real-life practice. Our first conference is coming up on the 2nd October and the team is starting to take shape!

All very exciting stuff, check back here regularly to see updates! Remeber, you always comment on here, Tweet me @CFlitney or find me on Linked In! Always like to hear suggestions and/ or feedback!

It all seems to happen at once!

This week has certainly been a good first week back from Easter. Firstly we got two more assignment grades back for previously submitted work before Easter. One was a brand report that I did for Thomson holidays and I got  first for it. And then another was the traffic building magazine I have previously posted up onto here which our group for a 2:1 for, so it's good results all round. 

My university work group also found out on the 17th that the work we submitted to the international Edcom Ad Venture competition was short listed in the final 12 campaigns out of around 80 team applicants across Europe. Also we are the only UK team to be short listed!! 

Our team are so excited that we've come even this far and we can't wait for next Wednesday when the names of the final 3 campaigns will be announced! The final 3 get to present their idea to a panel of judges in Portugal next month!!

And if that isn't enough excitement for one week I just got an email saying that there is a potential two week placement for me over the summer at an advertising and digital marketing agency in Buckinghamshire. I'm super excited for this as I've only really done one placement at the same company and even though EWO are amazing and I love going back and working there, I'm excited for something different; different work, different environment, different clients. It just adds to my CV and the wider the range of experiences I have, the better! I'm still on my mission to attend multiple 1-2 week work placements this summer in order to really build up my CV before my final year!

Also next Wednesday our university group are visiting Arena Media to be fully briefed on our last assignment; a live brief! From research they have such a wide variety of clients- but we've been assured it's not Dominos :) I'm secretly hoping it's either haven or a retail store. I'm in the summer mood as it's only 11 weeks until I go on holiday (and did all my shopping for it yesterday). However, we shall see, being able to work on any live brief and have the chance to impress an agency is an amazing opportunity regardless!

The pace of everything university related is really cranking up right now, but it's so exciting and I'm loving it! My aim is to push through these last few weeks left, get these assignments done, get my exam done, organise work placements and enjoy everything else that is going on!