We are proud, and excited, to announce a new addition to the EJP Marketing Co. team! Meet Public Relations Associate Valeria Sanchez.
10 Things to Know About Val Sanchez
You studied abroad during college. What was that experience like? Where did you go?? One word. AMAZING! Last summer for two months, I studied abroad in Maastricht, Netherlands. Maastricht is a cute country town, with only a short walking distance to Germany and Belgium. I learned some basic Dutch words and even rented a bike for the summer to get around. It was such a cool and immersive experience. At first, it can be a little unsettling to throw yourself into an environment where you don’t know anyone, nor the language, but it forced me to get out of my comfort zone. Throughout my experience studying abroad, I became more independent, learned about the Dutch culture and people, and most of all created new friendships that I will forever cherish! If I had to do it all over again, I would go in a heartbeat.
You have been a freelance writer, what did you enjoy most about this? Writing feature stories! They are my favorite because I get to write about the lives of interesting people. My favorite story I’ve written is about a journalist named Mike Tharp, who was a war correspondent and his experiences of what he saw in a war zone. As a freelance writer, my job is to be a good listener and give people’s story a voice. That’s what I loved about being a freelance writer; it’s a big job you and want to capture people’s stories in the most interesting and accurate way. I’ve had my articles published in The Shorthorn, Rambler Newspaper, and The City of Arlington News website.
You have started a photography business, “Upon Grace Photography”, in your free time. What inspired you to do this? I had my first photoshoot when I was 15 years old. I was taking pictures of high school seniors from the school I attended at the time. I remember growing up, I would take photos of everything with my mom’s iPhone 4. She got so annoyed by me using her phone all the time that she bought me a Canon camera for Christmas. I still have it even though I don’t use it as much anymore, the quality doesn’t compare to the new camera that I now have. When I was 20 years old, I invested in a professional Sony camera, but I only used it for family and church events. However, when I got back from studying abroad, I had this fire inside of me to pursue photography. It had always been a hobby of mine, so I thought why not start a business of what I enjoy doing the most.
If you could spend five minutes of each day doing one thing, what would it be? Honestly editing pictures using the Lightroom software by Adobe. I enjoy it, it’s an outlet for me.
What pearls of wisdom can you share about the value of digital media to you as well as to your generation? It’s a significant factor in my life and in the way I communicate and connect with others. As society is growing, so is digital media, and it’s not enough just having a website anymore. It’s crucial to integrate digital marketing strategies into your business and think outside of the box. Digital media is honestly the new “business approach” today. As for my generation, I encourage them to learn as much as possible. It’s those strategic skills that enhance interaction online that will get you far in the digital world.
What’s your favorite food and/or restaurant? I’m in love with Chick-Fil-A. I have it at least once a week or maybe more. The waffle fries are my absolute favorite with their signature Chick-Fil-A sauce. It’s delicious!
EJP is a business built on a philosophy of inspiring those around you, as well as giving back through mentorship, your time, and donations, what do you do to help inspire others or mentor younger or older generations? Share what I have learned from my mentors and pass on the advice in hopes that others can be inspired too. On the side, I work for an education program that helps high school students prepare for college. The students are always asking me questions regarding my college, internship, and study abroad experience. As a recent college graduate, I want to help them get where they want to go and by doing that I offer my time and share what I’ve learned along the way.
You have called yourself a coffee connoisseur. What are your favorite types or brands of coffee? My all-time favorite type of coffee is Korean coffee! My favorite brand is the Maxim Mocha Gold coffee mix.
If you could choose one city or country to work for a year, where would you go This is a hard question, but if I had to pick one place to live for a year, it would have to be London. While studying abroad, I visited London and fell in love with the city and diversity. London has a lot of old charm and modern areas, so you pretty much get the best of both worlds.
What are you enjoying most about being part of the EJP family so far? Everything! I love that since joining the EJP team, I’m always learning something new. I get to learn a little bit of everything, from media relations, coming up with strategies for clients, and doing social media metrics. What I love the most about the EJP team is that they genuinely want to see you grow and improve. Ayona has been a great mentor for me! She has so much knowledge of the PR and marketing world. I trust her advice and constructive criticism so much. I can’t wait to grow more as a communicator with the EJP family.
Learn more about Valeria on her bio!
Check out some of Valeria’s published work below:
UTA biology junior finds her niche in Latin sorority
By Valeria Sanchez, The Shorthorn staff
Jan 31, 2018
Laura Manjarrez stretched before practicing her dance routine for the Multicultural Greek Council Showcase on Monday.
Sigma Sigma Rho diversifies UTA
By Valeria Sanchez, The Shorthorn staff
Jan 25, 2018
The first UTA South-Asian multicultural sorority, Sigma Sigma Rho, founders started recruiting members Wednesday at the Activity Fair Day in the University Center Palo Duro Lounge.
Car Clubs Collect Toys for Children
By Valeria Sanchez, Rambler Newspapers
Nov 29, 2018
Christmas toys rode in style on Sunday, Nov. 25, as a car club caravan drove through downtown Grand Prairie streets.
A day in the life of an Arlington Animal Control Officer
By Valeria Sanchez
Posted on Friday, April 12, 2019
Not all heroes wear capes. Some are animal control officers who patrol the City of Arlington rescuing animals from harm and danger.
