If you ask a middle or high schooler what their favorite subject is, you’ll often hear answers like “lunch” or “PE.” For me, my answer was always math—algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, calculus, you name it. Unlike interpreting what an author meant by making the wallpaper yellow in an English class short story, math always seemed to have one right answer, even if there were multiple ways to get there. There was an indisputable truth: your answer was either right or wrong.
I knew my love for math classes would end with AP Calculus, as I didn’t want to pursue a college degree in mathematics. Instead, I wanted something more creative. But when it came time to choose a college major, I felt lost. Through classes at my university’s journalism school, I discovered a passion for storytelling, graphic design, and thinking outside the box. I dubbed myself “a creative left brain” because I loved expressing myself through creativity while staying grounded in logic and analysis.
What is there to PR, really?
In the movies, public relations professionals are often represented as unethical spin doctors who help clients avoid scandals. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think the same thing—even as I enrolled in PR classes in college. But I quickly learned there’s so much more to public relations than “spinning” stories.
Over the past three and a half years working at a PR agency, I’ve learned that building an effective campaign—and delivering desired results for your clients— requires a balance of facts and creativity. Immersing yourself in research and analysis is critical to identifying problems and creating unique angles for client storytelling. In this field, being a creative left-brainer is a huge asset. You need to follow a logical process before letting your creative juices run wild.
Agency work allows you to dream up exciting ideas—like launching a new product or engaging with influencers. However, you’re always grounded by budgets, program goals, research findings, and competitive analysis. This is where creative left-brained people thrive. PR is all about understanding the facts and using them as a foundation for creative solutions.
A career for all
If you’re feeling lost and unsure of what to study, I encourage you to choose a path that plays to your strengths. If, like me, you’ve always thought of yourself as logical rather than creative, don’t rule out the PR industry based on its portrayal in the media. PR can be a fulfilling career for both left- and right-brained individuals.