WHS and Hi’s Eye alum Abby Jarecki is making waves in the public relations industry, and she has yet to even receive her college degree. With graduation from Penn State University just a few weeks away, this senior already boasts an impressive resume that outshines many seasoned professionals in the field.
Jarecki has always had a love for writing, and this love was expanded during her time as Iris editor-in-chief for Hi’s Eye in 2019-20. She found a passion for using her creative ability to highlight people and business success. “I realized that kind of nature, that was PR.” said Jarecki. “It was giving recognition to people’s brands and who people were and it was something I definitely wanted to tap into.”
Jarecki found her passion in high school and ran with it, studying PR throughout her four years at PSU and taking some inspiration from her mom and her successful PR business. Jarecki praised her mother. “[My mom] has taught me how to kind of be an octopus in a sense, multitasking and managing so many different things while also being an amazing human and a mother,” she said.
Attending PSU has presented Jarecki with countless opportunities, but she truly found a passion in one of the business opportunities, TEDxPSU, which was offered to her by her college adviser.
She said, “[My adviser] sends out probably 15 to 20 opportunities a day, and one of them was working on the marketing team for TEDx.”
TEDxPSU is a platform dedicated to spreading valuable ideas and fostering community engagement through local events. At the events, TEDTalk videos and live speakers spark discussion and connection in small groups. TEDx events are independently organized, but follow the guidelines of the TED Conference.
Alongside her work with TEDxPSU, Jarecki has explored many things that the PR field has to offer. Spending last summer interning for Weber Shandwick, an international PR firm, Jarecki gained experience and got to further understand the fast-paced nature of the industry.
Additionally, in her podcast class, Jarecki had the opportunity to tap into her creative side, and decided to make a podcast about agency life. Take Agency is set to launch its first episode in the coming weeks as Jarecki is looking to share what she has learned with her listeners. “I want to bring that knowledge to people who are freshmen and sophomores starting out in PR and not really sure what the agency world is like,” Jarecki said.
Jarecki also gives advice for all future college students, not just those with plans to study PR. “Take advantage of everything your school has to offer,” she said. “Make the most of the people that you have and the experiences that they are offering you.”
As Jarecki prepares to enter the world of PR, her story stands as a testament to passion, dedication and the potential that WHS graduates have to achieve their dreams.
As she nears her graduation from college, Jarecki embodies the spirit of creativity and hard work. With her already obvious talent, Jarecki is set to leave a lasting impression at PSU and on the PR industry.