The moment I first heard about the Bateman Case Study Competition, I knew I wanted to be part of California State University, Long Beach’s Bateman team. 

Now that I’ve completed this experience (one not many students go through), I want to share what the Bateman Competition is really like. This competition deserves more attention from PR students because it’s fun, challenging, intense, and incredibly rewarding.

Walking into a room full of high school students chasing their college dreams, I was immediately transported back to when I sat in their seats, unsure but hopeful. 

At the Boys and Girls Club of San Pedro’s annual College Bound Mixer, I wasn't just a guest — I was a guide. The event, designed to help students connect with college-aged mentors, split us up into two groups: some of us sat at tables with students, while the rest introduced themselves from the stage. As the panelist began to share their names and majors — business, nursing, engineering, dance — I scanned the room and realized: 

I was the only Public Relations major in the room.

Whether you’re a college student starting your career journey or a senior preparing to graduate, having a personal brand allows you to express who you are and showcase your skills, passions, and professional identity. In today’s competitive job market, a strong personal brand can help you stand out and keep you top of mind to employers, internship coordinators, and networking opportunities (MailChip). A well-crafted personal brand can be the key to standing out in a saturated market, securing your dream internship or job, and building long-term career success!

With students feeling pressure to choose a career straight out of high school, I found myself feeling those pressures too. Not confidently knowing what major I wanted to commit to, I went undeclared my first year at Long Beach State and then transferred to journalism. Over the course of my first semester, I found the versatile world of public relations. It offers me the opportunity to stand out in any field I want to go in.

The Public Relations Student Society of America has played a valuable role in my professional development. One key opportunity it brought was to attend the 2025 Leadership Assembly in Charlotte, North Carolina from March 6-8. The Leadership Assembly is meant to provide a networking space for current and incoming chapter leaders across all PRSSA chapters, and to vote on the incoming PRSSA International Committee.

In today’s online world, information spreads rapidly, often with misinformation and disinformation behind it. For PR professionals, especially those working in fast-moving industries like sports, the pressure of being first should never outweigh the responsibility of being accurate. 

With the rise of social media and instant news updates, it is important to be cautious about the information you share because all it takes is one mistake for the public to lose trust in you or the company. Trust is something a PR professional can’t afford to lose.

Do you ever feel like you want to lay in bed and watch Netflix instead of planning your PR event or writing your campaign pitch for your new homework assignment? Me too. Personally, it takes a lot of hard work, motivation, and encouragement to really get the job done. 

For Tyrese Gibson, actor, singer, and 6x Grammy nominee, he struggles with this too. 

While scrolling on TikTok—like many of us do—, I came across a video that made me nostalgic of an experience I haven't even had yet. The video was part of a larger trend on TikTok where soon-to-graduate seniors are showing off their grad outfits, along with their cap and gown, and reflecting on what this moment means to them.

If you’re a public relations major, choosing classes can be difficult and confusing, especially as a freshman. This can often feel as uncomfortable as networking with professionals and not quite connecting. You open the course catalog and see hundreds of options but there are many aspects that go into choosing a class.

So, you want to write content for a blog but don't know where to start? 
Writing a blog can seem like a daunting task, especially if you’ve never written one before. First, it’s good to remind yourself about what a blog is. A blog is a form of written content that provides information, analysis, or commentary on a specific topic. They are similar to traditional articles but written in a more personable, relatable style, creating deeper connections with the readers.

PRess Pass is PRSSALB’s official Blog about all things PR. Posts are written and edited by CSULB Public Relations students.