Dear Friends,
It is for the first time since i joined the PRPOINT group that I have felt compelled to post a comment on one of our discussions.
I passed out of the Synbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune in May 2009 and have since worked with a technology sector MNC in Bangalore.
I along with my PR course batchmates have been fortunate to have Srinivasan Sir conduct classes for us which have seen some very unabashed and passionate discussions of Public Relations. I will always remember him as the teacher who taught me to record my first podcast.
Coming back to the discussion, I would like to denounce the actions of the PR student in question. The whole issue was handled in the most casual and unprofessional manner. Even if we keep aside the fact that she was in need and that requires you to take that extra step, her behaviour lacked basic courtesy which should and is (last time i checked) being taught in primary schools. I appreciate the efforts and patience shown by Narendran Sir and Sakthi Sir in dealing with this issue.
A few members have since shared their 'similar' experiences and there has been a general stereotyping of freshers/students. I was one a few months back and I do not agree that all/most students are like the student in question here. Having been part of that infamous batch of students worldwide who stepped into the industry in one of its worst times (something I hope no one has to ever experience) I have experienced first hand an entire batch of 40 odd students rally around one another hanging onto every possible option available to us. The level of seriousness, professionalism and commitment displayed by my batchmates who were in charge of placements was magnificent and inspiring. I am not implying that we did not make mistakes along the way but the intent to correct them and move ahead was powerful.
We were (and my qualified guess is that most student batches across India are) a good mix of extremely driven individuals and the so called 'slackers'. To generalize student behaviour into two shades - black or white, i feel is unfair. Why is it then a student who tops one course, just scrapes through in another one? Is it the lack of ability? I do not think so.
I can totally understand the level of frustration faced by our teachers when faced with unruly behaviour in classrooms. I have delivered a few speeches myself where most people have found the urge to sleep irresistible. I'm sure if we all tink back to our student days, we can think of at least one teacher whose sessions worked better than a mother's lullaby. I have some across more than my fair share of 'teachers' like that. In my extremely short career in the communications industry, i have already seen a lot of unprofessionalism on the part of other public relations and advertising 'experts'. The point i'm trying to make is that there is no way that we can generalize a particular category of people in this fashion. There will always be a mix of good and bad apples in every country and society.
Coming to a much larger problem and one which i think is more glaring in this case - the level of seriousness of the PR industry. Too many times have i sat listening to an industry professional who has asked us whether we have chosen this industry because it was an 'easier' option available to us. Well my engineering degree and 4 years of efforts tends to disagree with that implication. If that is the perception of the industry, surely based on the actions of the people who are propping it up, then it comes as no surprise that we attract talent like that. Is that something we can look at and probably change?
As i write this, i notice that my classmate from SIMC, Devina, has posted a comment and it just backs my case up so beautifully. She was the pick of the lot back in college and is one of the better examples that come to my mind when i think of professional conduct by a fresher. I make these comments with no offence intended and have made an honest attempt to put myself into the shoes of those affected. At least we have the student to thank for sparking off this debate.
Regards
Shoeb
No comments:
Post a Comment