I'm back from the Fulbright in Yerevan, Armenia. And while most of my current thoughts seem to be on the increasingly intimidating task of finding a new position in the marketing world, I have also spent some
time contemplating what my family and I just experienced.


It was the adventure of a lifetime. We left a comfortable California home to live in a nation literally half-way around the world. Adjusting to the 12-hour time difference might have been enough of a challenge, but not for us. We jumped in with two feet .... going to school, teaching classes and trying to exchange as much about our respective cultures as possible.
In total, I taught 110 students through the local university and then the country's marketing association. They were both graduate students and young working adults. Officially, my focus was on public relations, which I have written about in earlier posts. However, what seemed to have resonated most was my instruction in the world of new media.
I tried my best to explore new media communication forms with the students. We experimented by creating a class wiki (I highly recommend this for every educator). We discussed case studies about LinkedIn,
Facebook and other social media platforms. And the assignment that undoubtedly inspired the most creativity was the task of developing that essential instrument of today's public relations professional ....
the business blog.
I set a few parameters for my students' blogging. First, they were to use only Wordpress or Blogger. I made this stipulation so that no one would get bogged down in the mechanics of more difficult blogging
platforms. Additionally, the blog had to be about an established business or, if they could not obtain permission, they could create a blog for their university or a tourism blog promoting a certain aspect
of Armenia.
I want to share with you a few of my students' blogs. I do this not to show what I introduced to the classroom. Quite frankly, anyone could have assigned a business blog to these classes. All the work came from the students .... not me. However, I want to share with you these blogs because I believe they are representative of what some very talented young people can accomplish when provided the tools for great public relations.
I think you will agree that the following examples of student work go far beyond typical templated business blogs. These are good examples of both strategic and creative thinking, produced by young people who will undoubtedly become talented public relations professionals. It was a privilege to get to know the authors of these blogs and a thrill to see their work.
First, I want to show you "I Love My Child," a blog developed by Arevik Ohanyan and Ani Abgaryan. Arevik comes from a family of educators and a few years ago, she started her own kindergarten in Yerevan. For this assignment, she teamed with her friend and fellow MBA student, Ani, to create a very appealing blog. Yes, it promotes the kindergarten, but it provides so much more information for the reader. Arevik and Ani discuss parenting topics such as television watching and choosing a toy for your boy or girl. I love the design of this cheerful blog. It says "happy childhood" while clearly being a resource for parents who want to learn more about raising happy, healthy kids.
As citizens of the first Christian nation, many Armenians take their Christianity very seriously. The country's young people in particular are very interested in exploring their religion. My student, Arsen Sargsyan, is one of these dedicated young adults. He is an MBA student and works at the National Leadership Institute, a Christian education center under the auspices of the Armenian Apostolic church. Arsen's blog, "Explore the Meaning of Life" discusses the work of the institute and a lot more. Arsen uses personal experiences to help elucidate many key aspects of the institute's message. It is a great start to a blog with lots of promise.
Areg Barseghyan and Yura Yeghiazaryan are also MBA students who chose not to promote a particular business with their blog, but instead help develop tourism to their country. Their blog, "Touch the History," introduces readers to the sounds, sights and tastes of Yerevan. I especially love their insights into the club scene. With Areg and Yura's information, you won't be steered wrong should you find yourself after midnight and looking for somewhere to go in Yerevan.
I hope you enjoy reading these students' blogs. They're just three that are representative of the talent and insights of the young people I had the privilege of getting to know during my stay in Armenia. Thanks to Areg, Yura, Ani, Arevik and Arsen for letting me share their work. But most of all, a nod of appreciation to all 110 of my students who taught me much more than I could ever teach them. They showed me that with such bright, creative young people, the world .... and my profession -- are clearly in good hands.