My name is Sumner Baines, and I am currently a sophomore at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, where I major in public relations. I have ample experience working with student-run publications, such as The Daily Orange and Reel Magazine. In the PR sphere, I am a member of the PRSSA through Sports Affinity at Syracuse, where I conduct in-depth interviews, write profiles on leaders in the sports PR industry, and network with PR professionals.
In deciding to choose the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, I always knew that I wanted to pursue a career in communications -- but what that looked like remained a question.
As a little kid, I had always been fascinated with the power of words and storytelling. Whenever I was asked by a teacher, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I would respond, “I want to write for the newspaper.”
In middle school, I became an avid reader and watcher of stories and news, especially within the sports world. From reading local articles and reports on sports teams within our schools’ conference to watching Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon cover the latest events in the sports world on their show PTI, my understanding of the field itself widened. Being a journalist could mean writing for the newspaper, but it could also mean commentating on a live sporting event or conducting an online interview.
Fast forward to my sophomore year at Newhouse, and my understanding of the field of communications has only widened. Writing can mean shaping a brand's narrative, creating compelling content, and strategizing campaigns. I have realized that public relations and brand marketing allow me to combine my love for storytelling with the strategic elements of communication. I always knew the field of communications was right for me, and now I have been able to pursue my lifelong dream at one of the nation's leading communication schools.
In deciding to choose the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, I always knew that I wanted to pursue a career in communications -- but what that looked like remained a question.
As a little kid, I had always been fascinated with the power of words and storytelling. Whenever I was asked by a teacher, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I would respond, “I want to write for the newspaper.”
In middle school, I became an avid reader and watcher of stories and news, especially within the sports world. From reading local articles and reports on sports teams within our schools’ conference to watching Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon cover the latest events in the sports world on their show PTI, my understanding of the field itself widened. Being a journalist could mean writing for the newspaper, but it could also mean commentating on a live sporting event or conducting an online interview.
Fast forward to my sophomore year at Newhouse, and my understanding of the field of communications has only widened. Writing can mean shaping a brand's narrative, creating compelling content, and strategizing campaigns. I have realized that public relations and brand marketing allow me to combine my love for storytelling with the strategic elements of communication. I always knew the field of communications was right for me, and now I have been able to pursue my lifelong dream at one of the nation's leading communication schools.
