Our trip to Dublin changed my perspective on many aspects of my future career. Although I am not a public relations major, this course has provided me with countless insights into other areas of communication that I had never considered as a career before.

Before enrolling in this class, my understanding of sustainability and corporate social responsibility was limited to what I had learned in previous classes. I had never truly seen these concepts proactively integrated into business practices in the United States. However, as soon as we arrived in Dublin, I immediately noticed how businesses were taking tangible steps to reduce their environmental impact and promote positive change. Examples of this included trash cans sorted by categories, the use of paper straws, recyclable cans, and a strong emphasis on employee well-being. Witnessing these practices helped me understand that CSR is not just a topic I learned about in class, but a framework that can be embedded into everyday business operations.

One of the most impactful parts of the trip was our discussion with Alice PR. Their Game Changer campaign, created in partnership with the GAA and Ruhama, stood out to me as a truly inspiring example of the power of communication in society. The campaign raises awareness about women affected by prostitution, domestic violence, and other forms of abuse by directly targeting young men to challenge harmful social norms and behaviors. I found this approach incredibly inspiring to me in my future career because it aims to address the problem at the root. Seeing how they use strategy, creativity, and advocacy to improve people’s lives was eye-opening. It made me rethink the type of career I wanted to pursue. I now know that I want my work to help people tangibly, and this experience in Dublin has been a turning point for my career journey.

In addition, the work being done by Allied Irish Banks influenced me as well. Even though their journey to becoming net zero in carbon emissions by 2030 is an uphill battle, their genuine commitment reflects the authenticity that I deeply admire and would want in a future employer. Their seriousness about their pledge gave me a sense of pride, because I could not think of a typical American bank that would make such a bold and transparent commitment. Witnessing their approach reinforced my belief that the companies that I choose to work for should reflect my own values.

Overall, this entire trip showed me that there is more to the world than the monolith that is the United States. Experiencing firsthand how organizations approach sustainability and CSR gave me a perspective on what meaningful work should look like. Each company we visited had a different story to tell, but they all stood for a cause that they believed in. That is what I want for my future in the communications field.