STRATEGIC

WRITING
PORTFOLIO
JESSICA CARLIN
ELON UNIVERSITY CLASS OF
2017
[email protected]
(508) 361-7564
SPRING 2016 STRATEGIC
WRITING COURSE
DR. JULIE LELLIS
CLIENT: ELONS CAMPUS
RECREATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS
RESUME

REFLECTION ESSAY

4-5

BIO ON SHEA

BIO ON ALLY

FLIER

OP-ED

9-10

FACT SHEET
PRESS RELEASE
TIME LOG

11
12-13

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Jessica Carlin
508 361 7564 ! [email protected]
Website: jesscarlin.weebly.com
EDUCATION
Elon University, Elon, NC
May 2017
Bachelor of Arts: Strategic Communications
Study Abroad: Dublin, Ireland
Fall 2015
SELECTED COURSES
Media Writing, Elon University
Fall 2015
! Conducted research, performed interviews, and wrote press releases for a personal portfolio
Web and Mobile Communications, Elon University
Spring 2015
! Learned key terminology and principles of web and mobile communications, and coded
website for both computer and mobile use.
Creating Multimedia Content, Elon University
Spring 2015
! Gained knowledge in principles of aural and visual design, learned about media production
techniques, and created accessible content for the web and traditional media using Photoshop,
Adome Premire, etc.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Elon Campus Recreation, Elon, NC
September 2014 - Present
Lifeguard
Oversee students and local families at Elons Beck Pool
Help coordinate and run special events that Elon hosts in the Koury Center
YMCA, Shrewsbury, MA
October 2011 - Present
Swim Instructor / Lifeguard
Taught both group and private swimming and diving lessons to adults and children ages
3-16
Volunteered with the Special Olympics swim team to help coach swimming and diving
Received training and certification in child care and lifeguard training, as well as Red
Cross certifications such as Lifeguard, Basic First Aid, CPR, AED certification
Camp Nokomis, Bear Island, Lake Winnipesaukee, NH
June 2011 - Present
Sleep Away Camp Counselor
Provided safe and responsible supervision for girls ranging from ages 9-15
Taught, shared, and counseled core values of the YMCA in a two year leadership
internship
Succsessfully helped mediate conflict between campers
Instructed campers in activities such as swimming, sailing, hiking, arts, and crafts
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Recruitment Counselor, Elon University





Spring
2016
!Serve as an impartial representative of the College Panhellenic Association who
understands and implements the purposes and goals of the College Panhellenic
Association in recruitment.
SKILLS
!Computer: PowerPoint, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Excel , Photoshop, Social Media,
Adobe Premiere

Reflection Essay
Through my experience writing professionally for Campus Recreation as well
as learning new communication strategies in the class, I became a stronger writer
and gained professional growth. When I was hired at Campus Recreation two years
ago as a lifeguard, I couldnt imagine that today I would join their marketing team
working side by side with the director to help Campus Recreation grow as a
company. As I turn in my final portfolio, I look back at the semester and realize that
not only did I help Campus Rec grow as a company, but also my writing skills
improved immensely.
Through the pieces I wrote for Campus Rec, I saw a different side of the
company have I worked for and have had in my daily life for all three years of
college. What isnt shown in my writing portfolio that I gained the most from writing
for Campus Rec are the communication and client management skills I gained.
Between setting up and conducting professional interviews with the director and
team leaders, as well as in person meetings, I learned more about the company and
my relationship with them that I could have ever imagined. I also realized what it
means to have a great relationship with the client you are working with. I know that
in my future, I wont have a perfect and easy relationship with every client I work
with. With Campus Rec going through so many changes, both in the staffing and
facilities, I learned how to be flexible and work around peoples schedules. At first, it
was frustrating to be cancelled on last minute, but looking back it showed me what
the real world client work looks like. Its not always easy, but if both parties put in
the effort great work can be achieved.

The most important writing skill I learned this past semester is how to tailor
whatever piece I am working on to not only the client but also the directed audience
the client is trying to attract. A weakness I had before taking this class was being too
wordy and struggling with keeping my writing short and concise. I thought that
because I already knew a lot about Campus Rec, it would be easy for me to write for
them. I couldnt have been more wrong considering the client writing assignments
were some of the hardest aspects of the class. Learning how to write a good lead and
trying to capture the audience from the first sentence is important for Campus Rec
because their clients are college students who want all of their information given to
them to be short and easy. When going back and editing my work, I learned how to
delete unnecessary words, and using tips from Made to Stick realized what makes a
piece of writing stick with the audience.
Overall, this class taught me more than I ever expected. It didnt just teach me
proper grammar and how to write a good lead. It taught me how to be professional,
how to work with a client, and how to make my everyday writing as well as
academic writing the best it can be. One of my favorite assignments was the group
pitch on Elonthon because it was different than every other presentation Ive done
in my college career. We put effort into attracting our audience and how we can
leave with a good impression instead of just an attractive PowerPoint and
memorizing facts to give to the class. This class was different than others I have
taken in the best way, and I think because of that I learned more than I ever could
have imagined.

Meet the Team Leader!

Shea Heavey is a senior at Elon University, graduating this spring with a Bachelor of
Science in Business Administration and Marketing. Growing up in New York, she found
her love for life guarding at the Manasquan Borough Beach Department, where she
worked for almost six years. Shea has been working at Campus Recreation for the
lifeguard team since her freshman year, and now four years later is the team leader of 14
student workers.
Shea is a powerful figure for Elons Campus
Recreation with delegating responsibly within her team,
having constant communication with staff and students,
and always being as organized as possible for daily
responsibilities.
Her goals include maintaining a cohesive work
environment for her employees and being a great leader.
She hopes to obtain new pool participants, and continue to
maintain a high performance facility.
Shea continues to be a leader and powerful figure for Elons Campus Recreations
Lifeguard team. Campus Rec will be sad to see her graduate but has high hopes she will
go and be very successful after life at Elon.

Meet the Safety Coordinator!

Junior Ally Russo is not your typical student worker at Campus Rec. Aside from being on
the lifeguard team, Ally is Elons Red Cross Course instructor that teaches first aid, CPR
and lifeguarding classes to students.
Ally was first hired back in the Fall of 2013 as one of the first semester freshman to join
the Campus Rec team. She has been lifeguarding since she was 15 years old both at
various summer camps and her local YMCA in Westfield, Massachusetts.
My favorite part of working for Campus Rec is the
professional yet laid back attitude we all have. The whole
team is made up of college students that are really
comfortable with each other, but at the end of the day we are
still striving to do the best job we can profesionally.
Ally is now a junior with an excersise major and a
neuroscience major with plans on becoming an in-patient
physical therapist. In her free time, she enjoys abeing healthy
and active by hiking the mountains of North Carolina and Yoga.

Elon Campus Recreation

Spring Events

Fly Fishing Casting Clinic!

Saturday, April 2
Join Campus Rec in Greensboro, NC for a day of fishing and fun!
Trip cost is $5 and includes lunch. Registration opens after the interest
meeting on Tuesday, March 29 at 4:15 p.m. in Koury Commons
New and Improved: Easter Egg Hunt!
Thursday, March 31
BYOF Bring your own flashlight! This hunt happens at night
throughout the Historic Neighborhood.
This multi-faith Easter Egg hunt is open to students from all religious
backgrounds.
Keep your eye open for PRIZES! These will include various gift cards
and Swag Bags.
If you have any questions, please contact Shelby Lewis at
[email protected].

Dont hold your breath: Acting to end shallow water black out.
By: Jessica Carlin, Lifeuard at Elons Campus Recreation
November 7, 2012 was a day was like any other day at the North Baltimore Aquatic
Club, until one freak accident turned into a worldwide pledge to prevent what is now
known as the silent killer of swimmers.
In recent months, we have seem numerous tragic events, all that are completely
preventable. In the aftermath of the death of an elite college swimmer, organizations and
professional swimmers are raising awareness of shallow water black out.
Campiagns from the organization Shallow Water Blackout Prevention who partners with
USA Swimming and Swimming World Magazine are raising awareness, but clearly not
enough. Conversation only seems to happening when another death is announced from
shallow water blackout, but then the discussion stops.
In an advertisment done by CNNs Sanjay Gupta with Olympic Swimmer Michael Phelps
and coach Bob Bowman, viewers can learn facts on shallow water black out and how to
prevent it. The video also features the interview of mother Rhonda Milner, who lost her
son.
Unfortunately its taken more deaths to get more recognition, because these were deaths
that were totally preventable. Even the most fit athletes are in danger, Milner in the
video.
Although the video was aired on CNN, and competitive swim teams around the country
are aware of the silent killer, not nearly enough inforation has been given to the public on
this dangerous, yet simple act.
Shallow water blackout prevention organizations claim that awareness is the first step to
ending the silent killer. Education on every media platform needs to be provided. Having
a special on a CNN only helps those who watched it at that moment. But what about
everyone else?

Young children learning to swim, beach goers and everyday lap swimmers all have an
equal chance to die from shallow water black out. Every pool, lake and beach in America
should have signs warning and educating about shallow water blackout, as well as having
every lifeguard on duty informed and ready to respond.
Shallow Water Blackout can occur in any depth of water. This could be in the deep end
of a swimming pool, outside in open water, or even in the bath. By being proactive, we
can lessen the number of victims. Every person who goes swimming should know the
term shallow water blackout.
What people need are the facts. Shallow water blackout can cause brain damage in under
60 seconds. It can kill someone in under 3 minutes. If you knew this, would you hold
your breath under water?
About the author
Jessica Carlin is a junior at Elon University. She has been teaching swimming lessons to
various age groups and lifeguarding for over six years and knows first hand the effects of
shallow water black out. Carlin joined Elons Campus Recreation team in 2014 as a
lifeguard and student worker. She looks forward to her senior year wit the organization
and hopes to continue spreading awareness of shallow water blackout in hopes that Elon
University will never lose a student to the silent killer.

10

WHO ARE WE?

Campus Recreation strives to provide quality
recreational experiences for the campus community
in an effort to promote the wise, lifelong use of
leisure opportunities.

Hours of Operation

Koury Athletic Center

Monday - Thursday: 6:00am - 12:00am
Friday: 6:00am - 10:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 10:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am - 12:00am

Beck Pool
Monday and Wednesday: 7:00am - 9:00am, 12:00pm 2:00pm, 4:00pm - 10pm
Tuesday and Thursday: 12:00pm - 2:00pm, 4:00pm 10:00pm
Friday: 7:00am - 9:00pm, 12:00pm - 2:00pm, 4:00pm 8:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 12:00pm - 2:00pm, 4:00pm 8:00pm

Student Employment
Campus Recreation is a
dynamic student led
organization.
Our student staff is
dedicated to serving the
recreational needs of
our campus community
while enhancing their
personal development.
With 150 student
workers and 10
programmatic areas
Campus Recreation is
one of the largest
student employers on
Campus.

South Campus Facilities

(Driving Range)
Monday - Sunday: 2:00pm - 6:00pm

Phoenix Activities & Recreation Center

(PARC) Gymnasium
Monday - Friday: 3:00pm - 8:00pm

Driving Range Fees

Contact Us

(Phoenix Cash accepted)

Koury Athletic Center - 336.278.2000

Small Bucket - 30 balls - $3.00

Driving Range - (336) 278-GOLF (x4653).

Medium bucket - 75 balls - $4.50

Large bucket - 100 balls - $6.00

100 Campus Drive | Elon, NC 27244

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [May 11, 2016]

ELON CAMPUS RECREATION OPENS NEW FACILLITIES
Danieley recreation center opens
ELON, N.C The new recreation building in Danieley Center opened on Sept. 21,
and has since transformed itself into one of the most popular spots on campus. The
new building sits behind Danieley Center flats H, I and J.
The center was named the Phoenix Activities and Recreation Center (PARC). The
fitness center is open to students who live in the Danieley neighborhood, 6 a.m.midnight during the weekdays and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. during the weekends.
It holds seven cardio pieces, various dumbbells, a cable machine used for weight
training and a general floor area for activities and events. There will also be two
basketball courts and offices for Campus Recreation staff.
Were excited about it. We think it will add a lot to the Daniely area said Rex
Waters, dean of student development.
Planning and funding was provided by Brad Moore, associate director of planning,
design and construction. The center was initiated in October 2014 when the Board
of Trustees approved a proposal for the 14,850-square-foot new recreation center.
SUB and the Danieley Neighborhood Association kicked off PARCs opening with
glow-in-the-dark mini golf and laser tag on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
PARC hopes to continue growing for the 2016-2017 academic school year and
continue their success.
For more information, please visit http://www.elon.edu/eweb/students/campus_recreation/.
About Elon Campus Recreation
Campus Recreation strives to provide quality recreational experiences for the
campus community in an effort to promote the wise, lifelong use of leisure
opportunities. The Koury Center, Elon's 60,000 square foot recreation and athletic
facility, features a fitness center, group exercise studios, indoor pool, and
gymnasium and racquetball courts.

12

CONTACT:
Jessica Carlin
Lifeguard and Student Worker at Campus Recreation
(508) 361 7564
[email protected]

13

TIME LOG
Date
2/11
3/2

3/3
3/3

Number of Hours
1
2

Task
Reaserching possible clients
Interview with Shea

1
3

3/4
3/13

1
2

3/18-
3/29

3/30
4/5
4/20
5/2

2
1
2
1

Follow-up with Shea on the bio

Working on opinion piece for shallow water
blackout and relating it to Campus Rec as well as
MTS 3 relating it to Campus Rec
Client reasearch
Coffee at Irazu with director of Campus Rec Larry
Mellinger
E-mails and phone calls with Campus Rec pro staff.
E-mails with Shea and Larry. Phone call and tecting
with Safety Coordinator Ally Russo.
Working on Elon flier
Final edits on bio with Shea
Interview with Ally
Final edits on Allys interview

14