After I started at UC, it took me some time before I ultimately ended up in the Rhetoric and Professional Writing program. I first was a Sign Language Interpreting major, but quickly discovered that was not my life-long passion. I knew I had a knack for English, but wasn’t sure what kind of career that could get me outside of teaching. It wasn’t until the second semester of my sophomore year that I learned about the RPW program from a flyer posted on a bulletin board in McMicken Hall. That very same day I officially changed my major and enrolled in all RPW courses for the following semester.  

 

Introduction to Rhetoric and Professional Writing

My first real look into the RPW program came in the fall of my junior year, when I began taking Introduction to Rhetoric and Professional Writing. I had no idea what to expect going into the course, but was overwhelmingly pleased that our first class discussion centered around what types of jobs Rhetoric majors were qualified for. As a confused and overwhelmed junior, this was exactly the type of reassurance I was looking for, and from that point forward I threw myself into the RPW coursework. In this introductory class, I developed a working definition of rhetoric, began developing my e-portfolio, and was introduced to a number of skills and techniques that my RPW classes to come were able to build on.

 

Building a Foundation for Success

In the past two years, I have taken numerous courses that have advanced my writing, editing, and design skills. Each class I've taken has challenged me in a new, exciting way, and I've discovered previously unknown passions. In the course Rhetoric of Social Media, I learned the importance of a digital footprint and developed a more comprehensive understanding of various social media platforms. Prior to taking this course, I was not interested in social media and would have been one to argue that social media does not advance a company’s brand. Boy, was I wrong! In this class, I had the opportunity to learn about search engine optimization, effective branding strategies, Google Analytics, and much more. We were each tasked with following a company of our choosing’s social media accounts for ten weeks. At the end of the ten week period, we were asked to create a comprehensive social media guide, with which that company would hopefully use to improve their online presence.

 

In addition to Rhetoric of Social Media, the course Business Writing also played a key role in my learning. This class, which I took online, was one of the most challenging, yet rewarding classes I took during my time at UC. The professor was extremely attentive to detail, and for each assignment provided thorough commentary on our work. As I progressed through the semester, I noticed that with each of my projects, I become more focused on the words I was using to convey my message. It became extremely important to me that the content of my paper was being explained effectively and efficiently, so as not to leave room for doubt or confusion. This course, which I largely contribute my writing abilities to, was a major factor in my securing the internship I had during my senior year at the University of Cincinnati Foundation.

 

As part of the RPW program’s highly recommended internship course, I applied for the campaign internship at the University of Cincinnati Foundation in the spring of my junior year. I was hired by the Foundation in May 2017, and was employed until April 2018. It was in this internship that I really began to see the skills I had learned in my coursework come to life. Throughout my internship, I was tasked with a number of writing projects pertaining to the university’s current campaign.  I was also asked to create a database, using Microsoft Access, and to develop some campaign materials using Adobe Illustrator and InDesign. Without having a foundation for the technical skills this internship required, I would not have been able to secure my position within the campaign and advancement services department. This internship, in addition to my classes, provided me with a solid understanding of the skills required to succeed in a professional writing position.      

 

Challenges 

Of all the courses I took in the RPW program, I found Multimedia Writing and Desktop Publishing to be the most challenging. I will be the first to admit that I do not naturally have an eye for design. Learning these skills was the most difficult part of being in the RPW program, as it is one of the major components in the coursework. In both Multimedia Writing and Desktop Publishing, we were tasked with developing a basic understanding of Adobe’s Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, through a series of homework assignments and major projects. As a first time user, I was immediately overwhelmed with the massive number of features and possibilities these three programs offer. Normally, I would consider myself a fast learner, but when it came to understanding these three programs, I felt immediately behind the ball. Although I had a difficult time completing all of the class’ assignments, I do feel that I have developed a working understanding of the three programs. Despite the challenges I faced in these two courses, I did however have the opportunity to grow my skills through my internship with the University of Cincinnati Foundation. In this role, I was responsible for designing several logos and informational/promotional materials, all of which are currently in use for the Foundation's current National Cancer Center campaign.

 

Conclusion

After four years of classes and a year long internship, I was finally able to actively apply all the skills I learned during my time in the RPW program through my Capstone course. Capstone is the final class one takes in the RPW program, and its goal is to prepare students for graduation and full-time employment through a semester-long group project. For this course, I worked with five of my peers for the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, a Ohio History Connection non-profit organization. Throughout the semester, my teammates and I edited and redesigned the organization's website, developed new informational and promotional materials, and wrote a comprehensive social media campaign proposal. At the end of the semester, my team and I presented our work to the Harriet Beecher Stowe House's Board of Trustees, and received high praise for the work we completed. This course, and subsequently this group project, was very challenging at times, but overall, I believe that this experience has significantly prepared me to work both independently and as an involved group member as I move forward in my career.

    

Looking back on my time in the RPW program, I am pleasantly surprised with all that I have accomplished. Although challenging at times, I graduated with the necessary skills to succeed in the workforce. I am confident in my abilities and know that this is only the beginning, in what will ultimately become a long journey as a professional writer. Each written piece I developed throughout my time at UC served an important purpose, and aided in my ability to create more comprehensive, coherent pieces. Moving forward, I believe that the skills I learned in the RPW program laid a foundation upon which I can build a successful career. As I look to seek full-time employment post-grad, I know that my experience in the Rhetoric and Professional Writing Program will speak for itself. I am elated thinking about how much I have learned during my time at UC, and I am thrilled to enter the workforce with such impressive skills on my resume.