Cool Cousin Letter

Dear Wuki,

Hey dude how are you, I miss you so much. How old are you now? I’m sorry I haven’t called you in a while I’ve been so busy with school and work. I bet you’re a big boy now that you’re in 4th grade. Your mom told me you made the honor roll again, I’m so proud of you!

I’m doing ok out here in Utah, I hate the cold and the snow but I deal with it every day. I miss Florida and the warm sunshine, but most of all I miss when you and I used to go out to the beach to surf. Remember when grandma bought me a new longboard for my birthday and I took you out to play and surf, but we didn’t catch many waves because it was low tide? Those were the good ole’ days, but I still hope you’re practicing with your boogie board and maybe if you’re as good as me one day I’ll get you a shortboard thruster to start riding.

What are you learning these days in grade school? What I wouldn’t give to trade places with you. Here up at USU I’m studying Public Relations. I’ll explain it simply to you so that you’ll understand. In Public Relations you are responsible for conveying a certain understanding or message between an organization and the public. I’m majoring in this study because Public Relations is so broad and functional that you can apply it anywhere. Someone in Public Relations has the flexibility of doing a lot of tasks for a certain company that they work for. PR people perform a variety of jobs that ultimately help the company prosper internally and externally. Within a company analyzing problems and opportunities, building successful relationships with other companies and publics, relaying information, research, and strategic promotion puts only a tiny dent in a spectrum filled with other responsibilities that a PR professional must complete.

If I were working for Ron Jon Surf Shop down in Cocoa Beach as their Public Relations Director I would be responsible for informing the public about upcoming surf competitions, or promoting women surfers in an industry dominated by men. I would help build healthy relationships with the community in keeping the beaches clean so that the surf isn’t filtrated with garbage. I also could work on internal problems within the company like decreasing sales with certain surfboards because of the lack of demand in the market, or cater to our eco friendly clientele by switching to selling bio-degradable non –toxic surf wax and hemp tailored surfboard leashes made with recycled plastic. The list is endless.

I hope you understand what I am out here going to school for. This Public Relations major that I am focusing on is what I feel is right for my own career path. If all else fails though, we can always live with grandma in Samoa and be beach bums all day. Living at the beach and surfing 24/7 is ideal in your eyes, but one of us has to work to rake in the funds. So how about that Wuki? I’ll work for the both of us to support our surf habit. - -deal? Ok well I love you Wuki. Be a good boy, practice on your boogie board and send me a picture of you in your new football gear. I can’t wait to see you when I come back home.

Love,

Lani