As a soon-to-be public relations graduate, I’m excited, but feel pressured. There’s no doubt I’m confident with the skills and knowledge I have learned. At times I feel blessed having been accepted into a program that only accepts 40 applicants out of 200, sometimes more. The pressure, I think, dawns from the recent recession affecting employment opportunities and the transition from a learning student to a working professional. It screams competition! Some would say it could be worse, but everyday I feel like a broken record. I keep asking the same question over and over: what do I do?

In addition to being accepted into one of the best programs at Algonquin College, I also had the opportunity to meet some of the best PR and media professionals in Ottawa. They include: Stephen Heckbert, Andrea Petruzella, Peter Larock, Claudine Wilson, LeeEllen Carroll, Bradley Moseley-Williams,  Al Urhyniw, Patti Church, Lee McCoy, Helen Flaherty, James T. Careless, Hailey Kahn, Marilyn Mikkelsen, and Peggi Stark Adams.

Even though they represent various areas of public relations, they are all mentors and I can’t thank them enough for relieving my concerns and, at times, lifting weight off my shoulders and helping me move forward. A great thing about having multi-faceted mentors is they all have different answers. This allowed me to analyze all sides of the story, or in this case the field, and I wasn’t limited to one outcome, or opportunity.

In four years, I have seized opportunities, rolled with the punches, and sometimes failed. Learned from mistakes, moved on, and have no regrets.

So, what do I do? To answer this, I’m going to share with you some words of inspiration from my mentors. Maybe you can benefit from these as well:

“Marks don’t matter. It’s what you learn and how you do it that matters most.”

“Every person you meet could be a potential opportunity. It’s not what they can do for you, but what you can do for them.”

“Volunteering is the most respectable work you’ll ever do. You’ll quickly learn what you like and don’t like and you don’t have to worry about getting fired in the process.”

“You may not always like what you’re doing, or who you’re working with, but that’s reality.”

“Complainers don’t get ahead in life. Those ahead, never complain.”

Not sure if it’s just me, but the most common discussion I’m involved in on a daily basis, whether it be during my lunch breaks, hangouts with friends, or late night shin-digs, is cigarettes.

Now that I think about it, these are the most common scenarios for people to engage in bad habits, or in my case, things my grandmother wouldn’t approve of. These include: swearing, drinking, mischievous clothing, and worst of all, smoking.

An avid smoker for six years, with occasional ‘breaks’ (meaning I stopped buying, but continued bumming), I am now smoke-free and for over a year! I don’t know exactly how long, but I can promise you, myself, and my grandmother, this is not another break.

What I can’t break away from is the on-going habit of my friends. I love them dearly, but I can’t help but pity them and their daily commitment of satisfying the monster who’s taking control of their life, health, happiness, and freedom. You may be thinking, monster? Yes! Like the one on the Nicorette commercials, or the ones living under your bed, or in your closet. Well, a little extreme, but you get my point. It sure isn’t sweet as sugar, or yummy as a gummy bear. It’s black like tar, smelly like a skunk’s belly, and tastes like chimney smoke. M-m-m sounds delicious!

If it weren’t for being smoke-free for this long, I wouldn’t have had the chance to fully enjoy the taste of food without smothering my plate with sauce, or spices, or the smell of my perfume without having to suffocate myself, because one spray isn’t enough, or the extra time I have to do things instead of wasting precious time puffing my brains out.

I’m not a nutritionist, a mother, or an activist against smoking. I’m a 23 year-old who suffered long enough, satisfying a little monster who had control over my life, health, happiness, and freedom. Now, I’m in control. No more stinky breath, clothes, and hair. No more huffing and puffing while walking up stairs, and most of all, no more spending my hard-earned money on a controlling and disgusting habit.

Consider this: what are you losing by not smoking?

Sam I am. I am a leader. I am a motivator. I am strong. I am a hard worker.  I am passionate.  I am unique. I am smart. I am a good communicator. I am a good writer. I am an athlete. I am caring. I am balanced. I am strategic. I am intuitive. I am open-minded. I am Sam. Who are you?

“Green eggs and ham” by Dr. Seuss is a cherished past-time memory growing up. Being a “Sam” provoked chuckles, rhymes, and many occasions where I would have to answer “No, I do not like green eggs and ham,” but I’m not embarrassed. I’m actually proud to know my name was published in an award-winning children’s book, or used as a romantic lyric in a famous country song called “Calling Baton Rouge.”

Everyone has a symbolic purpose to their name, whether it’s a famous actor or musician, a representation of a country or culture, or a traditional inheritance passed over centuries.

Your name is important. It is unique. It is a title. It is a symbol. It is you.

When you speak your name, are you confident? Do you represent your name to your family’s standards? If an employer were to search your name, would they approve of their findings?

Not only is your name an important symbol, it is the identity of your brand. Yes, you are a product, but you have the control to be used or refused.

In reading “The Brand Called You” by Tom Peters, he says everyone has a chance to stand out. Everyone has a chance to be a brand worthy of remark. Think for a moment how people would say your name. In what context are you addressed? Does your name boost conversation, or trigger silence?

Tom asks which messages and strategies are we using to promote ourselves. If our names wouldn’t light up the eyes of a prospective employer or command a vote of confidence from friends and colleagues, or — worst of all — if it doesn’t grab you, then there’s a problem. It’s time we give some serious thought and even more serious effort to imagining and developing ourselves as a brand.