Dongkwan’s Advertising World

Since young, I’ve always heard that hard work pays off in the end.
Someone who’s been shining shoes their entire life, waking up at 4AM to go for a 2 hour train ride to the inner city, shining shoes after shoes while trying to use more polish to prevent the stinking foot odor from conquering his brain, while worrying about his 3 children who are in school knowing from the customers’ newspaper headlines that school shootings are prevalent everywhere. He works until 7PM at his shop in the train station, and only arrives home at 9PM to see his children ready to fall asleep. Happy that he had more customers today than yesterday, he brings home a bag of grocery so that his children can have a hearty meal for lunch at school tomorrow… After 23 years of this, he wins the $200 million lottery.

I don’t know much about the Yin and Yang, but this is how it’s supposed to be - says mom. I work hard at college, and I’ll end up getting my dream job, people say. But what I’ve realized is that it’s not just about working hard - it’s about how efficiently you work towards achieving your end-goal in a strategic manner. So if you’re a student reading this by randomness while trying to research more about the ad industry - well, you’re off to a great start. But the real important thing is just knowing much about the ad industry won’t get you any where - it’s about what you build to get that great job. So start building, as CareerBuilder suggests.

Wow. I’ve actually had a press release for the first time in my life. I don’t know if they were covered in any of the local or major publications, but at least I’m on my school’s website. Yes, and my name was also mentioned in AdAge… but can’t find it on the online version.

Here’s a copy of the Press Release that my school’s PR Officer was kind enough to interview me on:

ART INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
 EARNS PRESTIGIOUS OPPORTUNITIES AS THE 2008
“MOST PROMISING MINORITY STUDENT”

PITTSBURGH — February 5 —- Dongkwan Kim travels to New York City this week as one of the 2008 national finalists recognized in the Most Promising Minority Students program by the American Advertising Federation (AAF). Dongkwan is an international student from Korea and will earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh this June.
 
The AAF’s Most Promising Minority Students program connects the advertising industry with the nation’s top minority college seniors. This premier event provides opportunities to recruit fresh talent, to further prepare advertising’s best young prospects and to help the industry’s workforce better reflect the multiculturalism of today’s society. The program not only honors the student recipients, but enhances their knowledge and understanding of the advertising industry by offering networking, interviewing and industry immersion opportunities with industry professionals.
 
Dongkwan will join students from the nation’s top colleges and universities in the all-expenses paid experience in New York City February 5 through 8.  The agenda includes a luncheon at MTV Networks, professional development workshops hosted by Interpublic Group, ABC-TV, The New York Times, ESPN, McCann Erickson, and a variety of lectures, panel discussions and networking receptions. The event is sponsored by the above listed companies, as well as Walt Disney, Google, Pepsi, American Airlines, Advertising Age, The Publicis Group, Verizon, Young and Rubicam Brands, USA Today, Saatchi & Saatchi and BBDO.

Art Institute faculty member Jackie Fisher submitted Dongkwan’s nomination for the award and will attend this week’s events with Dongkwan courtesy of the AAF and on behalf of the Art Institute’s Advertising Program. “Dongkwan is an inspiration to me, and to his fellow students at The Art Institute, because of his natural talent, business acumen and the standards he holds for himself,” said Ms. Fisher. “But most impressive is Dongkwan’s career aspiration to become an advertising copy writer and the obstacles he has had to overcome as a non-native speaker.”
 
“It is a challenge for me to pursue a career in advertising because English is not my first language,” said Dongkwan. “This award, this opportunity is an honor beyond my imagination and I am grateful that I will be a few steps closer to my goals.”
 
Dongkwan is Korean-born and lived in Argentina and South Africa before moving to Pittsburgh to attend college at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Dongkwan averages 18 credits per term and is currently taking 23 course credits consistently earning a 3.9 or 4.0 GPA. He is president of the college chapter of the Ad Club, a member of the college’s student chapter of the AAF and a member of the National Scholar’s Honor Society, and has interned with Pittsburgh advertising agencies. Upon returning from New York, he will lead fellow students in preparing to enter two additional national advertising competitions.
 
“Beyond my academic studies, it is my hobby to research the industry I am preparing to enter,” said Dongkwan. “I encourage my fellow students to become aware of what’s happening because the more aware you are, the more you fall in love with the profession, and the more likely you will be to achieve your goals.”
 
The Advertising Bachelor of Science degree program at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania offers courses in the business of advertising and design. Graduates are qualified for entry level career positions in the advertising industry including: account service, public relations, brand management, corporate marketing, human relations and marketing research.
 
The Advertising Program’s Advisory Board members are ad agency presidents and business owners, marketing consultants and multimedia designers, nonprofit managers and executive directors, assisting in curriculum development and planning, as well as identifying prospective faculty, and providing internship and career opportunities.
 
Interviews and photos are available by request.

Yessssssssssssssss!

I got back home last night from a long day. I’ve been sick since my arrival from the Bahamas, with school work and activities threatening to kill me everywhere I go. And so I came home, checking my e-mail just before heading off to bed to cool off the rising fever.

“Congratulations.” I receive an e-mail saying I’m a finalist of the 2008 Most Promising Minority Students program sponsored and awarded by the American Advertising Federation. The American Advertising Federation is the oldest professional advertising organization in America, with over 50,000 members across the country. I am actually the Chapter President of it at my school - The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Wow! I mean, I got a kick-ass recommendation from my instructor Ms. Fisher, kick-ass academic accomplishments, and a corny statement and self-promoting tagline and a terrible dress-up photo. But I was actually chosen, as one of the 50 students chosen in the United States of America. OK. I was no longer sick. I jumped around like a kangaroo who just got his toe stepped on by a tow truck. I was like a kid who just had his first experience with plain wasabi.

So what next you ask? I’ll be heading on to the 3 day seminar in the Mosaic Multicultural Center in New York (yeah baby NYC), and participate in a program where I get to learn many things. The main event: the recruiting session with the world’s top ad agencies. Oh yeah, all of them that are on my list.

So watch me in USA Today or Ad Age when I participate in the event from Feb 5 - Feb 8, 2008. As I am most likely the only non-citizen or green card holder, this means that now I have to be the best amongst the 50 finalists.

So if you’re a student who’s willing to put something more to your resume, or, willing to do something more to get you an ad agency job, check out the many opportunities available at the AAF website. You’ll be surprised at what you’re missing out on.

And if you’re a recruiter or a creative professional willing to hire me, please give me just a couple more months when I’m ready to show you some of my talents.

Thank you everyone who has helped, and I will always do my best to make you all proud. Thank you AAF for choosing me.