What a life of advertising, what is the life of an advertiser in college? Ashley Methson is a second-year student in the advertising program at Loyalist College. She agreed to be interviewed about her, in the program and the program itself. “It’s an all rounded program”, says Ashley.”It covers all areas of advertising... there’s a taste of everything”
“The program is general, covers all areas of advertising”, she adds, as the program explores the design and copy writing side of advertising. Advertising program explores layout and design, copy writing and media classes. The fascinating part is that advertising students even have trips to Toronto to attend advertising events. The downside is that the program is located in Belleville Says Ashley. Which is true due to not enough people for an advertising company that is big enough to take most advertising students. But no doubt there kept busy with different style of their program.
“Advertising equals stressfulness” adds Ashley, pointing out that there is a lot of work involved in the program. Still she says, if the program wasn’t busy, it would be boring. Her secret coping with stress? “Lots of caffeine” she laughs. As in the loyalist program of advertising does different types of advertising like television, radio, billboard, posters, logo and magazines.
They also do brills advertising which is like stickers and magnets. They mostly do print than anything else. As they did television, they had to do a story board and a script that should make a thirty second commercial. One student in her year won the Walter Bell award for making a logo for a local, non-profit organization. “A taste of everything” adds Ashley, as it shows in how many types advertising they do. Their faculty acts like a mosaic, that helps them achieve their goals in the future of advertising. Rob is the designer, Charlotte is the copywriter and Harvey is the strategic planner. Ashley’s long term goals as a PR project manager or coordinator in a non-profit organization. Ashley worked for the Heart and Stroke foundation that makes her a step closer. A commercial that moved Ashley is the cancer society’s campaign, were a young boy was using a sling and people came and joined him which reflects the David and goliath.
Ad-gab, an event the advertising program holds at mix-97.1building, were the class gets together and discuss current ads. The event has munches and refreshments for the students that attend. The students are encouraged to bring an ad that they would like to discuss. One ad was discussed at ad-gab in which Discovery Channel, the highest standards of airtime permission. Anything that’s not around the genre of Discovery Channel is not shown. One time Discovery Channel most likely out of desperation, aired a vagina cleaner called “Refresh” which is way-out of the ordinary for discovery channel. But out of the ordinary wins the viewers attention.
Originality wins the awards; the advertising program gives awards to the most enthusiastic future advertiser. Ashley won the “Most Enthusiastic Advertiser” award last year, in her first year in the program. Shows that she’s a “Role Model” for her co-scholars. There are also, the crystal awards, which are awarded to people, who do an outstanding job on there work. Grades have nothing to do about getting an award. Ashley says she is also “hoping to win a crystal award, this year”.
There are lots of opportunities for growth in the advertising program.. As the students are offered one year, two year and three years in the program. Even one year can give a person, a J.R position in the field. Second and third year, skies the limit. The advertising careers are very rewarding, as it’s one of the only jobs, were an employee can double his/her wages in one or two years. Also with help from people in the fields another milestone.
Men and women in the field come and talk to the Loyalist College students about what it’s like in there field or work. One class called “exploring careers”, gives insight into professionals’ experience in the field, which gives the students a head start. One guest speaker who helped Ashley in her career path, was a grad from Loyalist College in 2006, and was Mat Kearney. He gave advice to make a short (one year) and a long (5 years) plan and write it down. In this plan, students would be able to see where their path was leading and that “nothing in school is a waste”. In the field, stay on a job for more than a year, even if you don’t like it, just to get your name out because the advertising industry is very small.
Though Ashley’s experience with instructors, guest speakers and knowledge about the field, he will no doubt succeed in her dreams and hopes in life. Her wisdom and personality has what no knowledge can give.
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