Heading into this summer, I made it a mission of mine to intern at an agency. Many students dream of interning at large, well-known corporations, and while I think that is also a fantastic experience, my main goal this summer was to expand my marketing and public relations skillsets and industry knowledge.

Last week I had the opportunity to attend South by Southwest 2018. With big brands, tech startups, and everything in between present, SXSW is an opportunity to immerse in all things technology. From sessions to Lyft rides to random coffee meetings, everyone was excited to talk about our not so distant future.

I love the chance to get out and network with other professionals in my community – especially through awesome organizations like PRSA. This year, I was lucky enough to have their Southeast District Conference here in Raleigh. The pre-conference, lunch keynote and afternoon breakout sessions were packed with tons of media relations tips, tricks and best-practices from experts at SAS, NASA and more! Check out a few key takeaways below.

The term fake news may be new for most, but the concept of sensational news has been around since the Ancient Roman times. Social Psychologist John Yost presented at a PRSA event last week and dove into the complexities of truth and how it’s affecting our industry today.

So, Christian, my son, serves up this little vegan/vegetarian gem via text: Q. How can you tell if someone’s a vegetarian? A. Don’t worry, they’ll let you know. I must admit, after nearly 18 months on a plant-based (vegan) diet, which all began voluntarily after watching the Forks Over Knives documentary, I’ve witnessed firsthand the dark side of meat and plant eaters.

The value of a positive first impression has never lost its importance. Before the worldwide Internet, first impressions were exclusively made by a firm handshake or witty pick-up line. Now, we see it more and more, the increased importance of making a good first impression online.

As a student trying to learn as much as I can about social media, PR and marketing, I embrace every opportunity possible to hear from experienced professionals. The most recent opportunity was at the 11th Annual YouToo Social Media Conference at Kent State University.