Many students may wonder what they should do while in college to kick start their career before graduation bestows upon them. Luckily for some students, they do not have to worry about that, like senior Kevin Castaneda, who is majoring in public relations.
Castaneda, a student who would like to go into the field of sports entertainment, holds several positions on and off campus that has helped him jump start his career.
Castaneda is student ambassador, a freelance writer for The Courier News and now holds a media relations position in University Relations.
Getting those positions was not just luck. Castaneda worked hard to get each one.
Castaneda first explains how he landed the freelance job at The Courier News. He took a sports writing class with adjunct professor and staff writer for the Asbury Park Press, Jerry Carino.
"I remember at the beginning of the class he told us 'take this class very seriously, but at the same time enjoy it. At the end of the day, when it comes towards the end of the class I pick a few who I think are the strongest writers and try to get them an internship or help them with a potential connection I know.'"
To Castaneda, that was his motivation to do the best he can. And by the end of the semester, Professor Carino offered him a freelance position at the Courier News. Although still in training, Castaneda will be covering high school sports.
Castaneda recalls while taking the class, coming across as someone who is deeply interested and passionate about sports and public relations, that this was the perfect class for him.
"[Professor Carino] even gave [the class] media press passes to go see the Seton Hall Pirates right at the baseline," he says, "we got to meet the players afterwards and write about them." This was an experience that he will not forget.
"During the summer," Castaneda continues, "Professor Carino's supervisor [at the Asbury Park Press] offered me a part-time job. Unfortunately I couldn't accept the offer."
Although he could not accept the job offer at Courier News, Castaneda was able to find an on-campus job that, like the Courier News, will help him with his career.
"I got hired immediately after the interview," he says as he reminisces about the day he got a media relations position at the Office of University Relations.
Castaneda is also a member of the Kean University chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), where he is able to help with social and event planning and work closely with the president of PRSSA, Michael Canova.
"When I first came here I didn't know what I wanted to do," Castaneda says as he begins to talk of how he became a Student Ambassador. "My sister, who worked in the office, helped me along the way. She's the one who told me to apply to be a Student Ambassador." And he has enjoyed every bit of it.
While there, he met a professional staff member that has influenced him in ways many people have not. He explains that the professional staff member is the reason why he has grown so much as a person.
At first Castaneda did not know what he wanted to do after he graduated from Kean University.
He explains, "for a long time, I didn't know what to do...eventually it became sports entertainment -- a very broad and very unpredictable industry."
Castaneda would like to one day work for the National Basketball Association, maybe be a part of the social media or public relations team.
Even if a student does not know exactly what he or she wants to do after graduation, getting a head start in college by doing freelance work or internships can help a lot. In the end, it is all what a student does while in college that help make or break his or her career.
