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Profile
of Angela Sarkis, Intern, American Red Cross, 4/05
By Amanda Harber
PPW/Writing Center Publicity Intern
Angela Sarkis
is a Communications and Rhetoric major who decided to take the PPW
certificate because it “is a practical way to learn how and
where to use writing in the workplace.” She feels that the
certificate can help her achieve her career goals because it has
taught her how to hone her writing skills. Angela believes that
public relations requires “top-notch writing skills”
and the certificate taught her exactly that.
Angela’s internship at the American Red Cross Southwestern
PA chapter is not her first. In the spring of 2004, she completed
a service learning component to the Writing for Advocacy course
in which she volunteered in the Marketing and Communications department
of the American Red Cross. It was this internship that landed her
a spring internship with the Red Cross. Additionally, in the fall
of 2004, she completed a three-credit internship at Big Science,
a sound design studio.
Angela chose to intern at the Red Cross because she wholeheartedly
believes in their mission: “to help people prevent, prepare
for and respond to emergencies.” Additionally, she works for
a nonprofit because she wants her contributions there to work “toward
the greater good of the community.” She says, “I am
one of only three members of the Marketing and Communications Department,
so every task I'm assigned makes a difference.”
At her internship, Angela writes letters to public safety officials,
business development contacts, and disaster volunteers; she designs
ads and edits course schedules in Adobe PageMaker; researches the
cost of print jobs; and helps where ever she is needed. The coursework
she has taken for the PPW Certificate—particularly Writing
for the Public, Persuasive Writing in Advertising and Fundraising,
and Public Relations Writing—taught her how to write newsletters,
press releases, and fundraising letters. Additionally, she learned
skills for writing for a nonprofit, as well as the skills that any
writing position requires: concision and meeting deadlines.
Angela’s writing has even been signed by the City of Pittsburgh’s
Mayor. As part of her duties, she had to write to request that March
be “Red Cross Month” in the city. Angela wrote the proclamation
request and the proclamation itself, which Mayor Tom Murphy signed.
Along with experiences like this, Angela says that she will take
away samples for her portfolio, “priceless professional experience,”
and great friendships.
Angela lends this advice to her fellow PPW students: “Don't
be afraid to ask for informational interviews--people in the professional
writing field are usually generous with their time and happy to
talk about their accomplishments (remember, they were in our shoes
not too long ago). Just say ‘Here's where I am, how can I
get to be where you are?’ and ask for 15 minutes of their
time.” If she could change anything about her academic career,
she would complete another internship. She’s learned the value
of writing in the workplace, and believes that “it makes possible
corporate partnerships and cause-related marketing endeavors that
impact our community every day.”
Angela believes that learning how to write quickly and concisely
has helped her through papers in her schoolwork, and she believes
that the PPW certificate has helped her develop skills that will
make her marketable in the field of public relations. Angela believes
that other students can achieve their career goals through PPW as
well. She says “the assignments are practical…things
you can use, NOW.” Additionally, she notes that the professors
offer “tremendous guidance.”
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