ASSP Publicist
Instagram Posts Fall 2024
Experience
Fall quarter week #1 (10/07)
Officially starting my new role as the Publicist for ASSP at SPU. Although we started Fall quarter 10/30, I didn’t meet my new team until 10/07. I had only met a couple of members prior to that day due to going to the leadership conference, so meeting my partner Tista wasn’t too bad. She is sort of my supervisor and her role is being the officer of operations. So far, I think my biggest challenge is relearning how to use Canva. Most of the projects are made on Canva and the last time I actually used Canva was in 2020, since my job at the time was at Kendra Scott as a sales associate, during slow hours I would make mood boards on collections we would release. Overall, the training was simple. There’s a binder with files and tutorials and I also have a link to a folder for all ASSP. We all have access to it, except not fully because I don’t have access to a separate email that isn’t my own school email or personal,. It’s just a shared file for now. This week I worked on a student discount partnership post, we try to post one every month to showcase a new place, students get discounts on certain places near campus and we try to spread the word. For this post I was sort of given free-range to do whatever, while I don’t feel like it’s my best work, it’s practice. I also made a post for discounted tickets to the sounders game, this one I had more help with but still did it on my own. I felt confident with this one, it’s cute. (10/11, 12:30 pm)
Fall quarter week #2 (10/14)
We finally established a meeting time, its every Mondays from 10:30-11:40 with Tista and Halle (Halle is the communications intern). I was told about senate on Monday evenings and it’s not mandatory but I’ll go to experience it. Today we just went though the training book together and set meet times, I also got my key to open the door if no one is in the office. I now have my key to go in whenever I need to. I got to meet other members of ASSP but we barely talk, I don’t really work with them at all but they’re still nice people. Tista and I partnered up on a post for commuter students, like myself and we want to do these kinds of posts every 2 months for more places to study on campus. Working with Tista has been very good, she’s a visual communications major and I feel like we combine our knowledge together and we do a good job. (10/14, 12pm)
Fall quarter week #3 (10/21)
ASSP puts out stall talk and I haven’t finished my stack, each person gets 2 buildings and we have to put them in BOTH bathrooms it was so silly having to go into the mens bathroom. I had to make sure no one was in there and had to yell it was staff. Luckily all the ones I knocked on were empty. Tista helped me finish my stack, it’s a little less weird with a buddy. Today we teamed up on the ORCA pass borrowing from the library, we were struggling with what color to use. Tista tells me that the publicist before I came wanted to do more pictures instead of digital on the instagram posts but we have nothing to take pictures of since there’s not that many events now besides sports. I’ve noticed they have a very Canva oriented base that has been working for them. I thought I’d have to relearn how to use Adobe photoshop but haven’t needed too. I will say they don’t use Canva pro so I’m using my personal and paying for the pro features, I wanted to relearn Adobe but Canva is $15 a month and I think they are too after the student discount. (10/21 12:15pm)
Fall quarter week #4 (10/28)
I’m so proud of my post for Election information, it’s probably my favorite so far. The history department sent us a DM letting us know we misspelled someone’s name but that was the info they had sent to Tista so it wasn’t our fault because we copied and pasted for that reason, we didn’t want anyone’s name being different. I’m attending Senate tonight, I already dread staying at school all day but I’ll go this one time, I think I’m going to go try Lucky Pho. The rainy days make me want soup or something warm. I’m curious to see what senate is like and what they do. We had a short meeting, we went to get coffee together and then came back, we think it’s odd I still don’t have access to the separate email that’s for ASSP, Halle doesn’t either. We let Jayla know which I’ve also only seen like twice but we make it work. (10/28, 11:45)
Fall quarter week #5 (11/4)
We’re nervous for the election but trying to stay positive. A lady that is at one of the offices upstairs of the Student Union Building came down and asked if we wanted to write on the bulletin board near Academic Perks, I posted a story to our Instagram page, slowly posting actual pictures not just reposting and using digital art. Our constant Ig reposts are from Anti Up, we actually just discussed why they don’t tag us to their posts so it’s easier to repost and they don’t have to fill in a request every week. I did go to senate last week, Halle has to go because she writes the transcript so I wasn’t there on my own. They were right I didn’t have to go because I just sat there, they were voting in a new senate member but it was so awkward, at least it was to me because they go around and ask what the goals are for the week but they only ask the club members, I guess the Senate for each school. I’m unsure but that day felt so long since I was on campus from 9 am – 8:30 pm. (11/4 ,12 pm)
Week #6 (11/11)
We didn’t meet today because it was Veterans Day. On days like these I just check the direct messages on instagram and see if anyone sent us a message through there. It’s usually reposting clubs promoting their events/meetings. I drafted up a post for Friday that was sent to us by the nursing leadership on sexual assault. We didn’t have much planned for this week. (11/12, 1 pm)
Fall quarter week #7 (11/18)
It’s Monday and we are so tired. Today we worked on flyers and posters for Sphere, it’s the campus social media. I’m excited because we’re not only going to do the flyers, we also want to upload a video about how to log into sphere if one hasn’t logged in yet but that’s to come because today we focused on the flyer. I learned something new on Canva today. Tista & I tag teamed our flyers, she drafted one up & I finished it, I didn’t know how to make multiple flyers in one page so it’s easier for us to print multiple one one page, but I figured it out by creating a grid post. Printing it out is on hold at the moment because we don’t have that much paper to use. Which is one thing, apparently they’ve been asking for more printing paper for ASSP but we still don’t have any, they (actual SPU staff in charge of us) kind of just let us do whatever but due to that when we actually need help, crickets. Senate is tonight but I don’t think I’ll be attending, I think they’re voting new senates in for 2 new clubs or departments. This week I want to figure out more things to do on Canva and learn more hacks. (11/08 11:50)
Winter quarter week #1 (1/6)
The quarter just started but we have more plans this quarter to input more pictures onto our posts and not focus too much on Canva. I feel like with Canva I’m more limited, I honestly thought I’d have to relearn how to use Adobe software again but I guess that would be too much for ASSP. I overall have been learning more using Canva, since I only knew the basics so I’m thankful for that and It’s my number 1 used app for sure not just for ASSP stuff but at school and personal projects. We haven’t talked about meeting this week since we’re all still figuring out what works out with our schedules this quarter. (1/7, 12:45 pm)
Winter quarter week #2 (1/13)
Last week we randomly met up on Wednesday only because I stumbled in there after class. We figured out what day works best to meet, we decided Mondays again from noon to 1 pm which works perfect for everyone. It’s usually us 3 in there during this time (my boss Tista, the communications manager Hallie and I). We did decide our first post to be a monthly post that we try to do which is student discount promotions. This month we’re doing Rogue Jiu Jitsu which is a new Jiu Jitsu studio opening up in the neighborhood. I really liked this post, it was straight forward but fun and different. The day we met up we liked a post that the SPU instagram uploaded, so we did our own inspired by it. This one was fun to make because I had a vision for it and it actually came out how I wanted it. I used my laptop and other things we had as props because we’re serious about trying to use more pictures this quarter. While making this we kept saying “this isn’t ASSP vibes” but it’s because we’re following the old publicists rules and she’s long gone so I feel like we can move away from that which is why I was happy with this post. (1/10, 12:20)
Winter quarter week #3 (1/20)
We had no class today, so we rescheduled our meeting for Tuesday. We were brainstorming on what to post for the week and had a snack, but we didn’t really do much because someone came into the office and was chatting about nonsense. This helped me practice patience since I wanted them to leave and let us work on our project, but we would just let them speak. Usually, it’s just us 3 in the office. I rarely see those above us; I still have not interacted with them. Jayla is the most involved, but barely. I overall have seen her the most. We’re independent for the most part. We seem to all communicate well, and Tista and I are like a 2 in 1. Except I don’t have as many responsibilities, and I like it that way.
Winter quarter week #4 (1/27)
Today, we were messing with this tree that I traced on Procreate to create a sticker for a poster we have planned for Cabinet. We didn’t post it on our Instagram, so I was rushed to nothing. I had to relearn how to use Procreate because I had only downloaded it for fun but didn’t end up actually using it. Having it downloaded already and knowing the basics was beneficial.
Owning an iPad will benefit my career because it’s small, and I can keep it in my purse to work on any creative thing I can think of, no matter where I’m at. This last week, I was ill, so having to be rushed on a doodle was not fun because it was not posted. Tista ended up reusing last year’s post. I only changed the font. We are limited overall with what we can do since the last publicist has a set of all these colors and themes; I don’t go with SPU’s color scheme, but it would take a lot of work to change. I will just keep using what we have and learn how to use it because I overall can’t come into a space and try to change things unless I’m directly told and given free range to do whatever.
Winter quarter week #5 (2/3)
We have officially started campaigning for the 2025-2026 Presidency campaigns! This is exciting because I’ve never been this involved on campus, but I’ve been enjoying it. ASSP wants to host an event regarding the use of Sphere, our on-campus social media site so that students can be more involved. We were thinking of videos or something interactive for everyone to set up their Sphere account. I didn’t get a say on what it was but was told as soon as I got to our meeting. We’ve been getting more foot traffic because other staff have office hours around our hours, so I’ve now seen new faces. Today, I did feel left out because I was starting the campaign post, and we had so many people in the office. I couldn’t even ask questions, and I was still a little sick sitting in the corner with my mask on, just doing my own work. Tista and I would touch base but get interrupted, so I just worked on creating the presidential post. While being ignored wasn’t a challenge because I usually prefer to work alone, communication could’ve been better on her end as we could’ve rescheduled. As a communication major, lack of communication is a pet peeve of mine. I also see it from her standpoint. If many people are talking to you at once, obviously, you will respond right there and then since they’re in front of you. I won’t let it linger in my head, but it was just an observation I noticed. (2/5, 4:15pm)
Winter quarter week #6 (2/10)
This last week was chaotic; campaigns for the future President and Vice President have started. Leaving me with an endless list of things that have to get done, which I have no problem doing. However, my supervisor has a lot on her plate, leaving me with less guidance. I think I should be given more liberty and should get more trust in my ability to get these tasks done, but I feel limited. While I don’t feel micromanaged, I think I could get much more done if I didn’t wait on my supervisor as much. I received a text asking how it was going with the presidential posters and if I had questions. Maybe I’m overthinking how she could’ve meant that, but I took it as if she didn’t think I had done anything. I had sent her a link to what I got done during our Monday meeting; it had been 2 days. She admitted to not looking at the link, but once she saw it, we were once again on the same page. This was my first conflict. While I’m going to believe it was only an internal and one-sided conflict, I managed to handle it well and, like my current conflict management class said, “overlook it and let it go.” I will do exactly that because our communication has been good until now. Yesterday, we put the finishing touches on the poster. I showed her a new one I had started, and she was thankful because she was starting one but didn’t have any ideas on how to go about it. We’re okay. (02/11/25, 7:14 pm )
Winter quarter week #6
This reflection was delayed because I was waiting to see what the situation changed and if I would have to speak up on anything, but so far, so good. This quarter was really hectic, so I see why things are happening the way they are, and no one is at fault. ASSP hosted Coffee & Connection to try to promote the sphere. It was interesting to see how I was overhearing students worried about where the money came from since it was free coffee. Sphere has been getting delayed overall; as much as we want to push it and want students to use it, it keeps getting delayed. It’s a waste of time, but I won’t say that because it is my job to go along with it, and it will probably start a conflict that isn’t necessary; it’s not that serious at the end of the day. It’s a waste of time because people are already using Instagram, the ASSP website already has a calendar for events, and essentially, that’s what Sphere is leaning towards. Due to my supervisor having a lot on their plate this quarter, I’ve followed what I’m told to avoid stressing her out more. I’m a very empathetic person and always put myself in everyone’s shoes first to better understand. This quarter, My conflict class has allowed me to learn so many new things regarding conflict; sometimes, we need not say anything. That might have to be my biggest challenge to this day, going along with things I feel are not that important and keeping my opinions to myself because while it might not be important for me, it could benefit someone else. (02/24/25, 3:15 pm)