Laura Poole is a public relations student at Southeast and a member of Public Relations Student Society of America. During fall break PRSSA took a trip to Orlando, Fla., to attend a public relations conference. The trip served as professional development for public relations students, and the theme was "Perception as Reality."

"It was a lot of personal development, meeting with professionals and networking," Poole said.

There were 13 students who attended the conference, which is the largest group PRSSA has ever had attend. The conference allowed the students to spend time in the Renaissance Hotel, meet well-known public relations professionals and even go to Harry Potter World.

"The highlight of the trip was probably Harry Potter World. A lot of us were excited about it," Poole said.

Poole said the conference really gets each student thinking about his or her future, and it allows PRSSA students from other colleges to have an enjoyable time with one another.

"I went because it really gets your mind thinking, out-of-the-box thinking," Poole said.

She explained that she doesn't want to be just an average public relations professional and settle for a regular job, instead she wants the job that people usually dream about getting. The conference allowed the students to meet the people who do have dream jobs.

"It's just rubbing elbows with a lot of people, people who know what they're doing," Poole said.

For public relations students, meeting professionals is the key to getting a job, and Poole believes that any time there is a chance to do that she should take the opportunity. Though the trip didn't have a lot of relaxing time, it allowed the PRSSA students to focus on their futures.

"It's difficult, and I don't always like networking, but it has to be done," Poole said.