Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Parker.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Shelby. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
While I’m not technically a business owner, I am a young professional in the business world, trying to find my place.
I graduated from CSU Bakersfield in 2015. I had plans of moving to Nashville to become a music journalist for a magazine or one of the country music TV stations.
You don’t usually land your dream job just out of college, but I was very blessed in that department for the right opportunity at the right time.
I landed a job at my alma mater, working in the public affairs office, thinking it would just be a temporary gig to help out on some projects. I also did some freelance writing on the side for one of our local publications.
The temporary, part-time gig turned into full-time and permanent, and I am now the public affairs coordinator at CSU Bakersfield. It consists of helping schedule social media, doing photography for events, helping schedule and post on social media, helping with film shoots, writing press releases and ultimately highlighting the university through other publications and working with local media for events, programs and sharing stories about the students who are continuing to change the world. I have met so many incredible people and learned so much about the world and myself, as I’ve grown in this position.
In my spare time, I spend a lot of time in LA, learning about the entertainment industry (taking tours of movie studios, watching TV show tapings, etc.), I write for my own blog (shelbyparkerwrites.com) and run my own social media channels to showcase my writing and travel when I have the chance.
While I haven’t ‘made it’ just yet, I’m still writing my story and growing as a young professional.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I know that I’ve had it smoother than some, but it also hasn’t come without challenges. Everything I’ve faced has strengthened my faith.
I think a big challenge has been not beating myself up for not being exactly where I want to be just yet. I think any young 20-something can relate. We have big dreams, plans, and ideas…But that doesn’t happen overnight. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure, it just means that it’s a work in progress and those things take time.
I think realizing that sometimes you have to make your own opportunities for the things you want to do and are interested in if that isn’t what your current role is completely. Like any relationship, people can’t read your mind and it’s up to you to speak up and tell your team/leaders around you what you’re interested in and the kinds of things you want to do. Put in your time and earn the trust of those around you and then give yourself the freedom to explore a little more when you have the base of what you do.
Overall, it’s the waiting and the process, which is just part of life at this stage in my life.
What else should we know about you, your work and what you are currently focused on?
Currently, I work in public relations/communications at CSU Bakersfield. While I am a writer, I also specialize in social media, photography, media relations/marketing and publicity. The thing about the role I’m in currently is that I get to dip my toes into a little bit of everything. There’s never a dull moment. I get to work and meet so many incredible people from all areas of life on campus, whether faculty, staff or students and others who visit our campus, like guest speakers for various speaking engagements like Mira Sorvino or a former NASA astronaut.
What I’m most proud of in my job is the team we have – the way we work together, the way we’re there for each other and the way we make things happen, no matter what challenges have come our way. We might be short-staffed, but we are innovative and creative in getting things done. “Divide and conquer” is our motto. We all have our individual strengths, but we lean on each other and aren’t afraid to ask for help when it comes down to it.
As for the writing I do on the side, I’m proud that I try to find the beauty in the small everyday things and focus in on those things, even when life is rough. I try to find the silver lining in the hard moments and turn it into something humorous and laughable.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I’ve always had a passion for television, but over the last couple of years, I’ve studied it as much as I can. I’ve taken Shonda Rhimes’ online Masterclass and read many books about storytelling and what it takes to write that perfect script. I’ve tried a hand at my own as well, writing short stories and drafting scripts of my own.
Since high school, I had enjoyed playing around with filming and editing videos but never did it seriously. During my last quarter of college, I took a documentary class and really fell in love with storytelling in that medium. I loved seeing everything come together from concept to watching it play on the projector in front of an audience. I liked being part of those details and being able to call the shots. Working at CSU Bakersfield on many video projects for some of our programs planted that seed once again for me to become more serious about the medium of storytelling through video.
Eventually, I would like to either be a staff writer on a TV show or become a showrunner of my own someday.
Contact Info:
- Website: Shelbyparkerwrites.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: shelbyparker_writes
- Twitter: shelbyn92
Image Credit:
Juan Rodriguez, Jr.
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