Class of 2026: Pushing through nerves to become a public relations pro

When Kristy Carreon stepped onto campus on her first day, she had a mountain of anxiety and plans to major in dental hygiene.

But, as she gets ready to earn her diploma, her time at Indiana University Northwest couldn’t have been more different from what she had planned.

For one, Carreon quickly realized dental hygiene wasn’t the path for her. “I was really lost and felt very out of place. I wanted to go into something more creative,” she said.

After doing some research into more versatile majors that would let her exercise her creativity, she landed on communications and business administration.

That decision would put her on track to attend a Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) meeting after encouragement from visiting lecturer in communications, Barbara Lack. In just a few years, Carreon was president of the organization.

“I fell in love with public relations, and so when I became president, my main goal was to grow the club,” she said. “It was a lot of fun, making friends and connections and being a role model.”

As Carreon wraps up her tenure as president, the PRSSA is at its highest membership in five years and was the second-place Pacesetter recipient in fall 2025, an award that honors chapters for outstanding achievements in membership, chapter development and national involvement.

Carreon has also shared her experiences on a broader stage, delivering a TEDx talk about how getting involved in PRSSA transformed her from a socially anxious teenager into a blossoming PR professional.

Carreon has already put her communications and PR skills to the test here in the Gary community. She’s worked closely with Tiny’s Coffee Bar to promote the business and even got a discount for IUN students and staff.

“They wanted Tiny’s to be a third space for IUN students, a space really close to campus where people can all come together,” Carreon said.

Carreon helped stage events at Tiny’s and built relationships with the business owner and marketing director. She was so successful that plans are in the works to provide future internships with Tiny’s.

“That’s what I like most about PR, building those relationships and sharing their stories with other people,” Carreon said.

As she looks to the future, Carreon is excited to become a public relations professional, focusing on campaign strategy and brand engagement. She’s especially interested in the storytelling aspect of building a campaign and hopes to lend her skills to a company in the wellness and beauty industry.

Despite her success, Carreon hasn’t forgotten the nervous girl who showed up to campus on her first day.

“I had to push myself to talk to people,” she said. “If you’re scared, remember everyone is probably feeling the same way. Getting rid of that social anxiety was the biggest thing that helped me make friends and connections.”

While overcoming anxiety is easier said than done, Carreon is proof that when you put yourself out there, you can excel on campus, in the community and beyond. 

Read more about IU Northwest’s 2026 graduates.