Students looking to sharpen their business and communication skills will soon have a new opportunity on campus. The Durham College Blogging Club, set to launch in the spring, aims to help students develop professional connections, gain mentorship experience and explore content creation as a career asset.
When the club’s founder and lead director, Britney O’Brien, sought new ways to create her website and blog for her small business, she believed establishing a club dedicated to blogging and collaborating with other students to gather resources would be mutually beneficial for everyone involved.
Students who join the club will be able to apply their knowledge from club activities and group collaborations to future careers and creative projects.
“ They can use it as a personal outlet for creative purposes if their employer needs that kind of content building,” said O’Brien. “It will help with a lot of interpersonal skills like interviewing, socializing and information gathering.”
O’Brien structured the club into departments, assigning leadership roles to students interested in overseeing specific areas.
She also noted that students seeking volunteer hours or certification points can earn them through club activities or events, which also provide networking opportunities beyond the school.
Currently, the club has two members in leadership roles: lead graphic designer and student integration coordinator.
Harvey Hernandez, a graduating graphic design student, became interested in the club after meeting O’Brien while volunteering at a student orientation, where she mentioned she was looking for someone experienced in creative visuals.
“It was closely related to graphic design and business,” Hernandez said. “We realized that we could make a collaboration happen between our passions.”
Hernandez said the hands-on experience and knowledge helped during his field placement and provided him with the resources and skills needed to land him his current job at Fastsigns International Inc., a signage and visual communications company operating across North America.
“I believe that there’s a place and a role for everyone, and they’ll be able to experience other roles outside of their field,” said Hernandez. He added that the club allows students to experiment with different forms of content creation in a low-pressure environment.
“ It’s the connections of the students which make it easier compared to an actual workplace,” he said.
The club is currently recruiting for lead content editor, meeting coordinator, marketing coordinator, budget manager, content coordinator and junior club member.
O’Brien is working on gathering a core team by the end of March to fully establish and begin club preparations. The blogging club has also recently created a social media account for anyone searching for additional information.
She encourages students to reach out if they’re hesitant to apply. “ We plan on doing in-person and online meetings, you can also email me and if you have questions, I can chat with you about it.”