The End

It's time to say "sayonara" to my blog, and to be completely honest, I will not miss posting one bit! As happy as I may seem, I still do have a great appreciation for those that can actively maintain a legitimate blog site. I regret to say I did not find (or make) the time to truly devote myself to this project and I envy those that have the passion to post online frequently and make the most of their sites. Blogging is something that I have never really had a passion to do, or the time to commit to but I am grateful that this project gave me such an experience - I will surely benefit from this in my future career! 

This blog assignment has prepared me for a professional career in the way that it has forced me to closely monitor my online presence. Online postings, such as the ones provided in this blog have the potential to be found by future employers and coworkers. Just as a journal provides somewhat of a "secret outlet" for someone to write their thoughts and emotions in, they still are a tangible document that can be found and read by someone else. Although it may seem as if no one is keeping tabs on your blog, anything written or posted on the internet is ultimately public property. I remember my mom telling me when I was a kid, "If you want something to remain a secret, don't write it down." The same holds true for blogs, facebook or e-mail. the internet is a powerful tool and it has the power to make or break my career. 

I think more and more, PR Companies are beginning to utilize online communication because they offer a cheap and effective relations strategy. Whether people are working as a part of a large firm or a small nonprofit organization, blogs provide a way for the company to communicate with its constituents. Blogs also offer an attractive way for the younger generation to become involved (because it is new media!). They are available 24/7 and can be updated any time for up-to-the minute news. 

Looking back on my chosen topic or "theme" for this blog, I wish I would have chosen a broader topic, either that... or I wish I would have followed more closely with my theme, "Becoming a Woman of Influence." It was my intention to follow the book Becoming a Woman of Influence, given to me by Sarah Duvall, and use the chapters as a means for posting each week. However, (and I regret to inform you Sarah) somewhere between traveling home from Washington D.C. and moving to college, I lost the book and still have yet to find it! I attempted once during the semester to purchase a used copy, unfortunately the copy was too worn to be shipped and never reached my apartment. Two-thirds of the way through the semester I ceased all attempts to find the book and kept posting blogs that loosely related to the theme. In the future, I will devote myself more heartily to the theme and try NOT to lose the reading that serves as the basis for the entire project.