Ariana Frinks, Attending professional networking events: 3 points

 

            

            Last weekend, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution kindly invited a few of my Blueprint teammates and I to attend their suite at the Atlanta Hawks HBCU Night basketball game. The event brought together basketball fans, HBCU students and alumni, media professionals, sports executives, and community leaders to celebrate Historically Black Colleges and Universities while also creating space for career exposure and relationship-building. While the main attraction was the basketball game, the larger theme centered on representation, community, and professional opportunity, particularly within sports media and journalism. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s involvement highlighted the intersection of sports, storytelling, and media careers, making the night about more than entertainment.

            I was extremely excited and grateful to attend this event. It was inspiring to see so many Black professionals thriving in sports journalism, marketing, and communications. Being in that environment made networking feel more intentional and meaningful because I could clearly see potential career paths reflected around me. Moreover, the journalists and professionals I was networking with were extremely familiar with the AUC, The Spelman Blueprint, and the Atlanta West-End Community, making our conversations more relevant and resonant. Professional networking requires confidence and preparation, and I had to be intentional about introducing myself and articulating my personal and organizational interests clearly. Each conversation strengthened my communication skills and made me more comfortable presenting myself professionally.

            All in all, I walked away from the event with lifelong memories, deeper connections with my teammates, and new professional connections that will help me in my career as a journalist/creator in media, and help the on-campus organization that I care so deeply for. I’ve already continued a conversation with the professionals I met through the AJC and have made plans to visit their headquarters/primary office and newsroom in the near future. 

- Ariana Frinks