Up until a few weeks ago I didn't have an answer for this question beyond "it just sounds fun." I mean I was passionate about advertising and knew it was the place for me, but I couldn't articulate why. How could I not have an answer to why I, so enthusiastically, want to jump into an industry that some call deceitful and manipulative? It was sweet professor Patti Harney who put a participation grade on the line to help me find my words. When I was forced to write it all down, this is what came out:
"I’m interested in advertising because I want to foster relationships between brands and consumers. I have always felt connected to brands throughout my entire life. When a brand stands for something that people can relate to, it becomes a part of their life and can even inspire them to be better. For instance, Bauer (now Nike Bauer) motivated me to become a better hockey player for the five years of my life that I played hockey. My brother, my hockey idol growing up, always said 'look good, feel good, play good' and I felt the best in a pair of Bauer skates, holding a Bauer stick. In high school Make-A-Wish inspired me to give families faced with the adversity of their child being sick hope and strive to put smiles on people’s faces when our school partnered with the Colorado chapter to host a Wish Week. Serengetee was the brand that made me feel like a global citizen when I got to college my freshman year and realized I wasn’t cultured at all. Now in my life you can find my closet filled with an absurd amount of Patagonia items because they make me feel like I’m back at home, adventuring in Colorado and I feel proud supporting a company that takes a firm stand on protecting the environment.
I mean look at the world's biggest brands. They connect people to something that feels bigger than themselves. Nike turns average Joes into athletes. Starbucks fosters connections over coffee. Apple inspires people to think different, even though users aren't being different by having the same products as everyone else. But see, that's just the thing, brands make people feel like they are apart of something. They invite people into communities of people with similar interests, intentions and lifestyles.
I have always been fascinated observing what makes a person connect to a brand. Now that I’ve learned more about the subject the past two years, I feel passionate about fostering those connections and helping new brands to build themselves. I know that I’ll be a good fit in this field because I have felt the connections I hope to inspire, I feel passionate about the industry, I’m genuinely interested in learning and I’m extremely motivated to be successful."
So that's why I want to go into advertising. I want to connect people. I want to inspire. I want to make people laugh. And most of all, I think I'm gonna be damn good at it.