The Importance of Personal Branding for Students
Personal branding is extremely important for students because it represents who the student is. We most likely wouldn't want our personal brand looking bad. If someone was going for an interview of some sort, it is most likely that the interviewer has searched that person up from before.
"Seventy-eight percent of decision makers look up salespeople before meeting with them."(Linne 5) Even though students aren't in the business world yet, this shows a lot. If a college scout looks up a student online, they are sent to everything with their name on it."People will spend about four minutes learning about you via internet footprint prior to meeting you." (Linne 25)
A good personal brand makes people stand out. Colleges look at hundreds of applications everyday. The chances are, is that all of them look the same. Everybody applying has a great GPA and they have all the required skills needed, but they're application is boring.
This is where personal branding comes in. If a student can make their application seem more interesting with their personal branding, then there's a greater chance of them getting into the college they applied for. A college might even ask to see the student in person. That is one way personal branding may also help.
"People won't necessarily remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel".(Linne 39) If a student can represent their personal brand not only online, but in person, then they are definitely sure to make a positive mark on the interviewer.
Another thing in personal branding for students is that it can help them achieve their goals. If a student is looking for a job somewhere, their personal brand can help them then as well. "Whatever you're hoping to achieve will be helped or hampered-and perhaps determined all together by the state of your personal brand." (Linne 21 and 22)
Who I Am
I currently am a high school student. I take pride in my work whether it’s in my academics, community service work, athletic, or extra curricular activities. I am a passionate about learning in all aspects of my education.
I love reading, writing, and playing the guitar and piano. I really value spending time with my family and friends. After school I like to do teakwondo and write poetry in my free time.
How I See Myself in the Future
In five years, I see myself already have graduated high school with straight A's. I also see myself going to an excellent college. I can accomplish this by working hard in high school, and doing my best to get good grades.
Ten years is an incredibly long time, and I'm not a hundred percent sure of what will happen. But, I hope that I'm finished with college and in medical school getting a doctor's degree. I want this so one day I can become a forensic psychiatrist. I know that I will accomplish this by working hard in high school, college, medical school, and my residency.
How I Want People to See Me
When people see me, I want them to see me as a good role model. On my mother's side of the family, I am the first grandchild, and on my father's side, I am the first girl. This puts a lot of pressure on me because my younger cousins are always looking up to me. I know that if I always do good, then I can achieve my goal of becoming a great role model.
I also want people to see me as a trustworthy person. I know people already think of me as this because my friends and family entrust me with many things. Another attribute I want people to link to me is creativity. I know my family already thinks of me as creative because I enjoy writing stories and play the guitar and piano.
One other thing I want to be perceived as is intelligent. In my family and society today, being intelligent is always something that people admire and respect. I know my family thinks I'm smart, but I need to raise my grades at school so that my teachers can see me as that as well.
Image Source Here
Linne, Larry G., and Patrick Sitkins. Brand Aid: Taking Control of Your Reputation--before Everyone Else Does. New York: Prentice Hall, 2013. Print.