By Derek Walter

Top Dog Communication is the perfect applied course for myself.  You not only learn different ways of doing tactics, you make friends and you make memories.  Top Dog is a taken in the course of Applied Public Relations and I thought that it was going to be an easy going and enjoyable class.  It was that and plenty more.  Not only did I work hard every week on my tactic, I researched my client’s website and guidelines.  This may seem like a lot of work  and it is, but working with my group made my first semester in Top Dog a huge success.
You make friends and learn about the type of person you truly are.  Are you a procrastinator or are you getting your work done early?  I found out in my first college semester that you can not wait to do your work later.  Take breaks every once in a while so you do not wear yourself out, but put your head down and keep on going.  As I once saw on a t-shirt, “No Pain No Gain.”  The college life is not easy and not super difficult, but it is a test to your dedication to your client and time managing while doing a tactic.
Top Dog Communication also brings out the designer in you.  Creativity is one area that I have improved a lot over this semester.  I started out plain and no fun, but my account executive wanted me to be more creative, so I asked for more creative tactics.  Not only do you design, but your writing skills develop more as well.  Your research is stated better after doing hours upon hours of media market research of relating these media outlets back to your client.  You may want out sometimes, but just keep going.  Everyone will help you and you will survive.
Top Dog Communication is the perfect applied course because of the variety of tactics that you do such as designing holiday cards, media market research, and press releases.  This course was easily my favorite course this semester due to the friends I have made and the hard work I have put forth for my wonderful client.  I want to thank everyone for making me feel welcome and I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given. THANKS.

By Laken Detweiler

1. You love your department aka the people
One of my favorite things about being a communications major is the people. It is so important to like the people that are in the department whether they are professors or students. For the next four years of your life you will spend a large majority of your time with them, so why not make sure you like them. I love the Comm. Department, and I am always excited to visit Comm. Land on the third floor that not many people are aware.

2. You’re excited to talk about it
When you pick a major you want to be proud of it and tell everyone, but on the other hand, do not let your major define you. As an orientation leader I was telling incoming freshmen my major on the daily, and I could not have been more proud of being a comm. major. I said it with pride because I loved it so much and found my place at UIndy and I wanted them to find theirs.
If you do not want to tell people your major, then after you graduate are you going to want to tell them about the job you have? I am excited to tell people about my major because although I do not want it to define me it is a large part of who I am. I know it is a cliché, but pick something because you love it, not because of the money. It may sound lame, but you have a whole life to live so why not enjoy it.

3. You enjoy your major’s homework more than the general education homework
It sounds ridiculous because homework sucks all around, but at least there is some motivation because this is what you want to do with your life, right? If the answer is no, suck it. You need to get a C or better most likely. The only thing about homework is that it will help in the long run, or at least tell yourself that. At least homework for your major has a purpose where as general education classes are just to “broaden your horizons.”

4. You see a future with it
Even if you do not know what you want to do, you have a gut feeling that it will workout no matter what. That all of the ridiculous classes and assignments you did will actually payoff when you get your first real assignment in the “real world.” Although thinking about your future gives you anxiety, the positives out weigh the negatives.
For me, everything finally clicked and I know exactly what I want to do with my life and I could not be more excited about it. I cannot wait to see what my future holds as a communication major.

5. You have a love hate relationship with going to class/doing assignment
It is mainly a hate relationship, but going back to number one, it’s the people. That’s where the love comes from. Some of my favorite people are comm. majors, and going to class knowing that I enjoy my classmates and professors makes it bearable.

6. The thought of changing your major provides no relief
All of the time I hear people complaining about their major, and I just sit there like “Oh, cool. I like mine.” They talk about the homework that is piling up, the people they do not get along with and the classes they do not understand. My suggestion to them is change your major because you are clearly not enjoying it. As for me, I enjoy everything about being a comm. major, and could not imagine being in a different department. In fact, I do not ever want to have to imagine being a part of another department.

By Laken Detweiler

According to Urban Dictionary college is defined as, “A magical place where it is rumored that learning takes place, although to those who enter it is often described differently afterward.” And they define sports as, “America's state-sponsored religion.”
 
For the most part, Urban Dictionary got it right. College is also a place where you fail at trying to figure out your life, but then you try again and again and finally kinda-sorta get it right. As for sports, that is right, but they also allow for individuals to build character and relationships, while also learning valuable life lessons like hard work, dedication and team work.
 
After I graduate I want to be work within a Sports Information Department on a college campus. I love sports and building relationships with individuals. In the summer I spend my time at UIndy’s summer registration welcoming all of the lovely freshman to campus. I absolutely love it.  So what better thing to do than combine the two things I love than working in a Sports Information Department. Plus, I have worked with remarkable people and it has made me fall in love with collegiate athletics even more.
 
I feel like it is odd to say that my dream job is working on a college campus. Before school I probably would have laughed at you, said no and walked away. Now, I cannot wait to connect with students on campuses and build relationships with individuals, while helping them achieve their goals as a person and an athlete.
 
Everything I have done at UIndy will fall into play in one way or another after I graduate. I have had the opportunity of writing and taking photos for The Reflector, being an editor for The Reflector, working alongside the athletic department at UIndy, interning with the Great Midwest Athletic Conference and working with Top Dog Communication.
 
My work with The Reflector has prepared me for writing game updates on the regular and press releases for different things that come through the athletic department. It has also allowed me to better my writing skills and even my leadership skills. I work with 12 editors and a class full of people on the regular, and it is all about constant communication.
 
While working alongside the athletic department I have had the chance to really see what happens at collegiate sporting events. I have seen first hand the hours that someone puts in. For some people, that is intimidating, but personally, I cannot wait.
 
As for my internship I have seen the back side of a collegiate team working with the conference itself. I have built record books from the ground up, which probably sounds super lame to you, but it has been my absolute favorite thing. Like I helped history go down in the books, literally. That is so cool for me.
 
When it comes to public relations and working with Top Dog Communication, it is a little different than I expected, but then again I was not sure what to expect. Top Dog has forced me to step out of my comfort zone and learn to work with different people in a different process. Top Dog follows a process that is really based on accountability in my mind. Jessi cannot do her job if I do not do mine, and Reagan cannot do her job if Jessi cannot do hers and so on. I have been exposed to so many different applications that I could implement within an athletic department. I think something that can really help me are the Trending Now Presentations. The applications that are presented are so valuable in anything that I will do.
 
I know it is super cheesy and cliché, but UIndy is really the reason I have had the chance to meet these people, and really they are the reason I that working on a college campus is my dream job. Through three years on campus I have seen Jackie Paquette build relationships with so many different athletes, and I have had the opportunity to work with her and see how she has impacted their lives. It’s something special and I want to be able to help students achieve their dreams while living out mine.

By Reid Lorey

The various tactics and assignments I’ve done with Top Dog has helped me to understand some of the necessary skills I will need to secure my dream job.  My dream job isn’t working for a PR department, but is actually in sales at a turf solutions company called Advanced Turf.  After working on a golf course for five years, I was intrigued by the different chemicals and products used by the course superintendent to make the course look so beautiful. I believe being in PR will actually help me excel in sales with the skills I learn in Top Dog. I will have gained important skills to communicate with clients and do assorted jobs to help clients maintain their business with customers so they can continue to purchase the products I am offering.
Top Dog continuously challenges me with new tactics in areas like design that I haven’t worked in before.  These challenges are proving to only help me and add new skills to my resume that I can use to pursue my dream career.  Advanced Turf is my dream job because of my passion for golf course maintenance, but many of the salesmen working for Advanced Turf currently have years of experience working with chemicals and fertilizers before gaining that job.  I have golf course experience but with Top Dog I will be gaining knowledge that many of the current employers don’t possess in the sales field.
Gaining skills in design, research, and communication through Top Dog will separate my resume when applying for this job. I was undecided in my major for the first semester of college and was stuck between PR and business.  Working for Top Dog has made me positive I made the right decision. The skills I am gaining in this class are applicable to a real job and I am able to see this through the work I do for our client.

​By Jeremy Ordas

Welcome to Top Dog Communication, the student run Public Relations firm here at the University of Indianapolis. Now, the journey that has led you here probably went one of two ways. One way is you developed your love for public relations and you are more than ready to begin your journey to becoming a full-fledged public relations practitioner. The second way is like some freshmen who have no idea what they want to do after high school and you just so happened to end up in Top Dog. Either way, you’re here now so you better make the most of it. 
            However, you shouldn’t take that dive just yet. Top Dog Communication is a great environment for students to not just learn about public relations, but foster their skills and knowledge of public relations. Going in blindly could leave the average student unprepared and overwhelmed not for just the first day but for the rest of the semester. Luckily through intense hours of research and personal experience I have come up with 7 tips. 7 tips to make sure Top Dog Communication doesn’t suck for you.

1. It’s okay if you don’t know what public relations is –  Nobody is born into this world with a complete knowledge of public relations. That would be weird. Everybody has to start somewhere. Even the best PR practitioner started where you are now.

1. Know that we are here to help you – Remember when I said that Top Dog is a great environment for students? It’s up there in the second paragraph if you missed it. One of the reasons Top Dog is so great is that the professor’s and experienced Top Dog members are more than helpful. We’re willing and ready to extend a helping hand.

1. Don’t be afraid to be creative – There is no such thing as a bad idea. As you get involved with Top Dog, you will soon see that it is a great place for students to flex their creative muscles.

1.  Learn to take constructive criticism well -  There is no such thing as a bad idea, but there’s also no such thing as a perfect idea. Two heads are better than one so when someone offers their criticism to your idea it’s not because it was bad. It was a good idea before, now it’s a great idea.

1. Stay Current – This doesn’t mean stay current on your favorite TV show (but seriously though, the season 7 premier of The Walking Dead was insane!). A good PR practitioner knows that staying up to date on current news and events is vital to success. We believe the same in Top Dog

1. Don’t let deadlines sneak up on you – You know how people say, “I don’t need to write that down, I’ll remember it.” They don’t, and neither will you. As you will learn, people in Top Dog will have to depend on you to turn in quality work on time on a consistent basis. Don’t be that guy that is always late. Nobody likes that guy.

1. Follow your heart – A tried and true saying. Cheesy but tried and true. At the end of day, when the dust settles and you don’t think that public relations is for you don’t worry. Everybody has their own niche. If Top Dog isn’t yours, keep searching. We’ll support you every step of the way.

 
These are just a couple of tidbits of advice that hopefully help you as you begin your journey as a member of Top Dog and maybe even eventually to a public relations practitioner. Of course there will be more as the semester goes on, but I am sure you’ll be able to take it in stride.  

​By Ainger Alexander

In Jason Mraz’s famous song I’m Yours he said, “your name is your virtue.” This is quite the coincidence on my behalf because I am named after French fashion designer Etienne Aigner and ever since I was a little girl I have been crazy about fashion. I grew up on the ever-changing trends of the 2000’s and YouTube fashion vloggers trying to break into the industry. When I was a senior in high school and got my first laptop, I was introduced to fashion blogging and I knew that with my affinity for writing and my love for fashion, I would kill it in that capacity. I then matriculated to college and while fashion blogging became more of a hobby than a career, the concept of  “branding” emerged and I was introduced to something better: Fashion PR.
            Fashion PR is an innovative, fast-paced field where the hours are long, and the work is extensive, but those who have mastered the skills of promoting fashion brands to the style-conscious will prosper. To excel in Fashion PR, you must be able to do the following things: Created a strong brand for your client, build a network with fashion editors, publicist & buyers nationwide, understand media trends, be ready to handle crisis situations, be creative/innovative and lastly, prove the value of your work.
            Since being an account associate in applied PR I have learned, and am still learning, a multitude of skills that I will apply to my career in fashion PR. I have familiarized myself with design software like InDesign/Publisher, which will allow me to creatively express information that is imperative to the brands that I will represent. I have learned the significance of various tactics and have created about 8 different ones including fact sheets, databases, brochures, postcards, and blogs. I have learned about the 3 different types of campaigns that a PR professional would create for a brand and in what ways they can be made even more successful after the initial concepts are presented. I have begun learning about trends in social media and building my network with colleagues and professionals alike. While the work that I have been doing with Top Dog is not fashion related, these basic skills are transferable across all areas of PR and will ensure success in whatever capacity you work as a PR professional. 

By Olivia Lunn

As many college students do, my journey didn’t always start where I am now. I started out in the health sciences and eventually found my way to the third floor of Esch. If we are being very honest, I didn’t even know what PR is. Luckily I found my way and am definitely not looking back.
When I was first investigating the world of PR, it instantly attracted me with the word relationships. I wanted a job where I was able to interact with many different people from all kinds of backgrounds, building not only work relationships but friendships. After taking my first few PR classes I realized that this career path was just that. Just thinking about it makes me smile (cheesy I know). There are many different avenues in the PR world that you could go down whether it has to do with sports, corporations, non-profit, and the list goes on that also attracted to me. Even as a “this is my last semester” senior with two internships under my belt, there is that question mark still looming over my head about what I want to do when I start “adulting”. Luckily I have had many people reassure me that feeling is totally normal and will find my way because this career path just has so many options.
Another reason that I chose this career path illuminates in each PR class that I am. I have grown to build relationships with all of my classmates that will extend way past our classes, college careers, and our work careers. We have developed little networks for future job opportunities that extend way past Indiana. I may be biased, but I am not sure if there is another group like us on campus. It definitely makes me feel so thankful that I chose this career path.
If you are still questioning if your major is right for you, I suggest do a little digging into all of the different options your university has when it comes to majors. There is one just for you that will make your career path so clear just as PR did for me!