Rachel Godin, freshman broadcast journalism major, used to be able to breeze through classes in high school, but college was different.

“I was struggling because it was my first year in college, and I didn’t really know how to handle the stresses of studying,” Godin said.

Looking to gain her confidence back, Godin turned to McGraw-Hill Education programs that complemented her textbook.

It was through those programs that she found information about becoming a student ambassador for the company.

“I was surfing online actually and came across something in my email and it was from McGraw-Hill,” Godin said. “I didn’t realize that I had been a part of something with them. I didn’t know I was using a McGraw-Hill product at first, I just used it so I looked it up.”

Kent State was one of 11 campuses across the country chosen this fall by McGraw-Hill Higher Education, a supplier of education materials, to have a student ambassador raise awareness about its products. The schools in the program were selected because of their use of McGraw-Hill products on campus.

“It’s a really great opportunity for students to gain real-world experience and set themselves apart when they get in the real world,” said Joe Mahshie, associate marketing director for student programs for McGraw-Hill.

As a part of the application process, Godin answered a series of questions regarding how she would market McGraw-Hill products to a campus and then had a phone interview and an online interview this summer.

Godin performs first-day-of-class demonstrations, when the product is introduced into a classroom and registration takes place. She also sets up information tables for the company around campus, passes out fliers and raises awareness about McGraw-Hill products through social media.

Godin accumulates points for different activities she does, such as setting up tables, passing out fliers and performing demonstrations.

“I want people to know that the textbook is worth it and you can pass your classes,” Godin said. “You don’t need to worry about it because there is technology coming out that isn’t out of your price range and you don’t have to worry about failing.”

She said she reports to Mahshie and sends him a chart of all the points she earns. If she is one of the ambassadors with highest amount of points, she will go to the McGraw-Hill National Convention in San Francisco next spring.

Mahshie said students had to have used the products and spoken well about them, and also be leaders on campus. Mahshie said Godin, who used Connect and LearnSmart, is a good example of that.

“The Connect, it gives you quizzes and tests before you take your tests, and LearnSmart actually adapts to the way you learn,” Godin said. “So you’ll answer questions and it will give you feedback.”

Godin’s job will end at the end of the semester, unless she reapplies. Godin said she is going to wait and see what else she wants to get involved in on campus before she makes her decision.

Godin said so far the experience has been a good one.

“It’s helped me learn how to network because I’ve never been very good at talking to people.” Godin said. “It helped me understand how to talk to people who are professionals and older than me, and I think that’s one of the coolest part of this whole thing. I never would have gotten that experience.”

Contact Audrey Fletcher at [email protected].