I believe that as a public relations professional or journalist, the primary aim of my work should be to demonstrate the love of Christ to others and let them see Him through me. In a time when my chosen profession is seen as manipulative and underhanded by a large portion of society, I must live out my Christian faith with integrity. As my father always told me, having a good reputation is extremely important while going through life. My “Mirror of Virtues” consists of four words: Freedom, Authenticity, Humility and Creativity.
Freedom
As an enthusiastic fan of Mel Gibson’s "Braveheart," I have always felt a thrill deep within me while talking about FREEDOM. In the movie, William Wallace’s character did not allow him to accept the oppression of the Scottish people by Longshanks and the English. What started out as a bitter rage after his wife’s murder ended up as a life spent boldly fighting tyranny. As an American, freedom is a great source of pride and something worth fighting for. George Washington said,
“Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.”
I believe that without freedom, true morality is impossible. In order for someone’s good works or virtuous actions to count for anything, he must be free to choose those actions for himself. Otherwise, they will be forced, and forced morality is not from the heart. The freedom that Christ has earned for us is a beautiful thing, but is must be used for His glory. As Galatians 5:13 says,
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
Authenticity
While attending Biola University, I have heard the word AUTHENTICITY multiple times, and I have developed a sort of callousness of overuse towards it.. However, I do believe that it is very important in terms of relationships and reputation to be authentic. Merriam-Webster online defines authenticity as
“True to one’s own personality, spirit, and character.”
Being authentic has a lot to do with living out our faith, which is what the professors, chapels, and entire Biola experience is striving for us to do. Saying we believe is easy. Having others say they believe because of our authentic walk with the Lord is hard. James 2:14 famously says,
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?”.
Being authentic grows trust, and trust is vital in mutually beneficial relationships, which in turn are at the foundation of the entire field of public relations, as stated on the PRSA website.
Humility
I gravitate towards being an introverted individual, so naturally others assume that I am humble as well. While it’s true that I don’t brag about my success or abilities, the truth is that I am inwardly very proud. It is truly a struggle take on HUMILITY, as my sinful nature wants to take over and say that I’m better than everyone. As I’ve gotten deeper into God’s word, I’ve seen my own sinfulness more clearly, and that has been a much-needed source of humility for me. Philippians 2:3, one of my favorite verses, says,
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
Being arrogant is a sure way to push people away, as it is not an attractive character trait. In the classic movie "Chariots of Fire," Harold Abrahams started out as a supremely self-confident runner, and thus many of the viewers were rooting for him to lose . Just like authenticity, humility is important to relationships and thus is important in both journalism and public relations. Thinking and acting as if you are better than other people, as contrary to the dictionary definition of humility, is not a good way to conduct business.
Creativity
I love CREATIVITY. Seeing and trying to understand the creative minds of others is fascinating to me. Writing is something I like doing and do often, and it typically serves as my creative output. For about two years, I also had a YouTube channel with my cousin, which we posted videos to semi-regularly. I remember going to "The Revenant"with him, both to purely enjoy the movie and to analyze what the director and cinematographers did well and poorly. Journalism involves both creative and functional writing, but I believe that excellent creative writing is more difficult to master. Public relations necessitates thinking outside the box and planning for contingencies, also part of the creative process. Fantasy literature has a place in my heart, and my favorite author, Brandon Sanderson, is a creative genius. Much like Tolkien, he has created an entire world, complete with different races of people, nature, history, religions, and magic systems. In addition to this, a more relevant source of creative inspiration to me is Casey Neistat, a popular vlogger and entrepreneur. His videos are artfully put together and creatively shot. His internet success and creativity is not an excuse to take it easy, either. He typically works 50 hours a week and finds time to spend with his family as well.
