I remember walking into my last advising appointment and I was dreading hearing the word "capstone." Naturally, I wanted something that was going to challenge me, make me step outside my comfort zone, and push me one step further. One thing led to another and before I knew it, I applied and was accepted to be a part of the BrandJRNY team.
The feeling of sitting around a table with five other strong women who were just as eager to learn as I was, was powerful. It's cliché, but this "class" really was a journey. It's a journey of growth, maturity, and experience. I grew with my team, matured professionally, and experienced a new love for the state of West Virginia. The BrandJRNY community branding initiative gave me just what I needed: a hands-on project and an immeasurable amount of real-world experience in public relations and advertising.
Through this journey, there have been so many things that I have learned about myself and my team. Things were quick; we began working towards our end goal during our first class session. The work we did was meaningful, but what added to it was the relationship between the team. We had dinners together, stayed up countless nights perfecting our work, reached out for support, and lifted each other up, but most importantly, we grew together. This is what makes the BrandJRNY team so unique!
I've always struggled with goodbyes, or as I like to call them cya laters, and this has been no different. To our team, I want to say thank you. Hannah, thank you for helping me grow and growing with me. Also, thank you for always letting me drive and control the music. Chelsea, your passion for BrandJRNY overflows. Your little bits of advice are something that I will take with me after graduation. Adrianne, thank you for always giving me the push I needed. You always knew when I needed the "you can do it, just push through!" Jessie, thank you for always giving each project your all and laughing with me on our many drives to Point Pleasant. Becca, thank you for the countless Zoom dates, Canva editing sessions, and always being down for a McDonald's snack wrap. Each of you are going to do amazing things and I can't wait to watch you continue to grow in your future endeavors.
Thank you to our director and professor, Dr. Rita Colistra, and BrandJRNY graduate assistant, Samantha Stocksdale. Sam, thank you for always being calm during the storm, helping me realize that everything will come together and that it'll all be worth it. Dr. Colistra, thank you for turning me into the young professional that I was looking to become, spending countless hours with me during one-on-one meetings and for teaching me more than I can even put into words. The tough love that you gave each one of us was exactly what I needed. Because of you, I'm ready to enter my next step as a graduate student at West Virginia University.
One last thank you to my family for being my biggest supporters throughout my undergraduate career, caring about BrandJRNY and for always encouraging me to give back to our home state, West Virginia. I would not be here without your love and support.
This hands-on experience will be something that I will take with me as I embark on my future career. Thank you to each and every one of you for believing in me and making this an unforgettable semester during my time at WVU. I cannot wait to see all of the amazing things that we accomplish in our next chapter.
My name is Adison Ammons and I am the Advertising Director for BrandJRNY's Point Pleasant Project. You can find me in spare time at chick-fil-a or browsing around Target. Follow me through our journey on various social media platforms @adison_elizabethhh.