Tarah DeSousa
Media Communications Strategist II
ACT
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
I knew I wanted to be a writer since I could hold a pen. But what kind of writer? I wasn't sure.
I experimented with poetry, fiction, and nonfiction throughout high school. Decided on journalism.
I pursued my journalism degree at Iowa, while also obtaining a creative writing certificate.
Before I graduated, I didn't know if I wanted to be a journalist or a communications professional.
Because of my internship at ACT, I landed a job working in internal communications.
I liked my position in internal communications, but then a role in social media and PR opened up.
I decided to take the leap, despite my lack of PR experience, and I'm so glad I did.
I'm now going back to school for strategic communications in order to advance in the field of PR.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
George Washington High School
George Washington High School
Career
Media Communications Strategist II
I help advance ACT's mission by creating and executing strategic communications initiatives.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Writing
Education
Communicating / Sharing Stories
Day to Day
A typical day for me includes monitoring the ACT brand, our competitors and the education industry as a whole on both social and traditional media. I relay information to our team members and / or to the general public or reporters, when questions arise on our products and solutions. I help write and edit press releases, communication plans, and social media campaigns, and garner earned media through partnerships with local nonprofits and community organizations.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
Take a job that may not be 100% "relevant" to your degree. You may find that it's the perfect position for you. If you hate it, you'll know exactly what you don't want to do. Experiment, don't be afraid to ask questions, and allow yourself to breathe. No one comes out of college knowing how to execute their first job. It's a maze, and you're supposed to fail (seriously, it's the best way to learn). Talk to everyone you can and build relationships. They will take you far in life!
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Teachers:
"You shouldn't waste your intelligence on journalism - go into a STEM field."
