BECCA FUQUA

Hello! I am a girl named Becca, a recent college graduate and jack of all trades. These are my adventures. Thanks for visiting!

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Here's to you old Tennessee, our Alma Mater true, we pledge in love and harmony, our loyalty to you! Congratulations my lovelies @haleyahardin and @ifyourefromafrica 🎓 (at Thompson-Boling Arena)

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relishing in the fact that this is the last final i will ever have to study for. 🎓

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A Thank You

Thank You, from UT Knoxville from UT Alumni Association on Vimeo.

It has been far too long since my last post. Finding the time to sit down and blog over the past few weeks was simply impossible. I literally had every major project that I've ever done for school, due on the exact same day, this past Tuesday. Right as school began to suck up all of my time and energy, my boss presented me with a project that was going to require many hours of work, but was an opportunity I just could not pass up. These few weeks have taken a lot out of me and tested my patience, but ended up being a thrilling experience that I am beyond thankful for.

You're probably wondering what in the world this video is. It was a cool Tuesday morning, around 6:15am, I was up until midnight working on my PR campaigns pitch, and I had a management exam at 8. I threw on my trusted lululuemon wunder unders, a long sleeve tee, and the most comfortable quilted, grey hoodie. Fast-forward to 11am, when, upon arrival to my social media class, I remembered that a person was scheduled to film us for this years Thank You video from UT. He hung around class for a while, took tons of different shots, many of which I know did not have me in them, and of course there I am, on the day that I didn't even look in a mirror before leaving the house.

Other than the fact that I look rough, I am super honored to be in a class that was chosen to be highlighted. I think that by taking a class dedicated solely to social media has really helped me become a more well-rounded student. I love what the School of Ad and PR is doing, I love its faculty and its alum, and I am super proud to be even a small part of it. 

Standing between now and my college graduation are a few small assignments, one day of class, two days of interning, and a finance exam. Then, on December 13th, I get to graduate from the greatest university on Earth. This student-to-official-adult transition is admittedly super terrifying, but I am thankful that I chose a program that continuously challenged me, that provided one-of-a-kind experiences and opportunities, and that focuses on the success and growth of its students.

I will miss being a student, having little to no real responsibilities or worries, studying abroad for a semester, walking around campus on a gorgeous fall day, Thursday night trivia, lazy Friday afternoons, late nights in Hodges, long days in Scripps lab, sitting in the student section at Neyland, the professors that left lasting impressions, and - most of all - I will miss learning.

What to remember: Even though I will grow out of being a student, I will always be a Vol.

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it's beginning to look a lot like christmas

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thanksgiving with the maximus

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holy shiza, ladies, we did it! @morganm32 @andioverby @sakfullosex @_polishedpearl (at Scripps Interactive Convergence Lab)

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what is @chadwicka's mustache doin on my television !!?

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today reminded me how much I am in love with this city (at Palmer House Hilton)

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What's On My Mind

My professor brought in a schmorgishborg of pizza a few days ago. Well, naturally, I tweeted it. I'm not sure what about my tweet prompted Domino's to reply, but it felt good. It had me thinking about how much I love that companies, big or small, have the ability to communicate directly with individual members of their audience through social media. It is always nice to feel heard and appreciated. 

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Return on Influence: A Reflection

I recently finished reading Return on Influence by Mark Schaefer. Let me just say this book was jam-packed with rich insight into social influence. I love the way Mark tells stories, and much of this book had me reflecting on my own social influence. 

I have definitely stepped up my social media game these past few months, but I still have a lot of work to do before I'm a bonafied citizen influencer! Although I still have a ways to go, I really enjoyed learning about measuring social influence and the marketer's benefit of that. 

Social Proof

I remember when Mark came to talk to us in class early this semester, he discussed this theory of social proof. I had been trying to conceptualize this for some time. We all constantly hear people bragging (or complaining) about their follower - to - following ratio, or how many friends (or fans) they have on Facebook, you know who I'm talking about. The most fascinating part of this theory is how with social media, anyone literally has the opportunity to assume the authority of social proof. And even more interesting, is how those who have social proof online, can have little to no influence at all offline.

Social Influence & Business Benefits

This concept of social influence, and now the tools that can measure influence, allow marketers and advertisers to precisely target those who they are trying to reach. Before this phenomenon, many businesses were hesitant to hop on the social media bandwagon because it was difficult to measure a return on investment. I mean, I understand where they were coming from, managing a social strategy is no easy task, but with where the world of social is going, you literally cannot avoid it. So, now that we have tools to measure potential publics' social influence, businesses can now advertise to and engage with those who can use their social proof to drive content and engagement with your brand. Now that's how you put the word target in target audience.

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want, need, wear, read

One of my favorite bloggers does a series titled "want, need, wear, read." I find this series really simple and interesting, so I decided to make a post myself.

Christmas is coming up faster than you think, so I thought I might use this series do a little list making for myself! Something I want is this piece of art by Richard Turner here in Knoxville. This piece (along with many other) are hanging up in the Gallery where I am interning and I have been eyeing it since the day it went up. Something that I need, is this Anthropologie throw. As it continually gets cooler outside, I want nothing but to snuggle up in the warmest things. Something to wear are these drool-worthy Madewell boots. Something to read is The Circle by Dave Eggers.

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some gorgeous pieces up at work this month (at The Emporium Center)

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@rockquella in the last remaining video store in America

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94% of all Facebook users are either a Starbucks fan or friends with one.

(via How Starbucks Went Digital— And Why You Should, Too (Infographic) | Entrepreneur.com)

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Matt Buchanan on Snapchat’s new feature, “Stories”: http://nyr.kr/15EoRwV

“Stories fundamentally alters the nature of Snapchat, in three ways: messages now live for up to twenty-four hours, rather than for ten seconds; they can be viewed repeatedly within that window, instead of just once; and they create within Snapchat what is effectively a stream of content and a semi-public persona. While the changes wrought by the twenty-four-hour window appear to be the most drastic, because of how central temporality is to the service, it is, in fact, the latter change that will most dramatically alter the nature of Snapchat.”

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happy fall y'all!

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Anna + Sam

Last weekend I took a trip to Kansas City, Missouri. It was one of my good friends from college's wedding. Her and Sam had a gorgeous day, and I was so happy to be there to celebrate!

Congratulations Anna and Sam!