During the first weekend in November, I was invited by a wonderful group of ladies on the e-board of Ithaca College’s Women In Communications club to attend the 2016 New York Women In Communications, Inc. Student Communications Career Conference (say that ten times fast).

On the four hour car ride to the city from Ithaca, my expectations for this conference were, well, nonexistent. I had no experience with NYWICI, nevermind one of their most popular and widely attended conferences of the year. All I kept thinking to myself was that this was my first opportunity to make a name for myself as a professional woman in the communications field, and I better not screw it up. Like any eager student ready to learn and network, I did my homework. I printed resumes and business cards; I even did research on the panelists. This was all well and good but in the end, I may have prepared a little too much.

I only handed out one business card at the conference, and believe me when I tell you it was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my life. This seems like an over-exaggeration. That’s only because it actually is an over-exaggeration. I was so caught up in the moment of what to say to these professional and extremely successful women that I forgot their purpose at this conference. They were there to help me! And help me they did.

Not only did I learn endless information about the field I’m aspiring to enter as a professional, I gained so much knowledge about what it means to actually be a professional woman. As women we're always told to build each other up rather than compete against each other. It wasn’t until this conference that I realized we can actually do both. It’s perfectly OK to be competitors with another woman for the same position. The important thing to keep in mind is that we leave gloating and negativity out of the picture. All my years of failed softball playing couldn’t teach me what this conference taught me about friendly, healthy and positive competition.

It was undoubtedly a weekend overflowing with knowledge, but I made friendships and connections that I value just as much as everything I learned about resumes, networking and interviews. To all of the aspiring professional women looking to enter the communications field: I can’t encourage you enough to become a member of NYWICI and attend this conference if you can. As a sophomore, I’m so thankful that I was able to become associated with this organization and conference early enough in my career. Here’s to next year.