Are you getting sick and tired of your mundane, minimum-wage job? Are you looking for opportunities to start something more creative? The College of Communications “Freelance-A-Thon” is your chance to learn more.

Whether you’re out-growing your job in retail, or bored out of your mind as a cashier at some convenience store, it may be time to explore innovative ways for you to spend your time, and get paid doing it. The “Freelance-A-Thon,” a convention designed specifically for students interested in any field of communications and potential freelance work, will be held in Carnegie Building on April 12 and 13.

The “Freelance-A-Thon” could be an eye-opening event for any student, but is specially designed for students involved in communications or the arts. The event is geared to writers, photographers, filmmakers, graphic artists, web/social media experts, coders, designers, and musicians.

In addition to learning more about what freelancing is and the skills you’ll need, there will be influential speakers and special guests there to inspire you and share their stories. Cindy Ross will share her experiences in freelancing on April 12 in the Carnegie Cinema at 2:30 p.m.

Ross is an accomplished author, blogger, illustrator, and traveler. She has written six books, the most recent one being “Scraping Heaven—A Family’s Journey Along the Contintental Divide.” More than 500 magazine articles of hers pertaining to travel and outdoor adventures have been published, and she writes posts and updates her blog frequently.

Another notable speaker will be Penn State alumna Jill Knight, a staff photographer at The News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina. Knight has also freelanced long-term documentary photo essays for various publications. She owns her own destination wedding photography business as well, called “Jillography.”  In 2013, two of Knight’s long-term photo essays, “Special Delivery” and “Duty, Honor, Gay Marriage,” appeared on the New York Times Lens Blog. “Special Delivery” was later published in Marie Claire Australia and the Penn Stater alumni magazine. Knight will speak in the Carnegie Cinema on Sunday at 3:45 p.m.

Anyone interested in the works of either Ross or Knight would surely enjoy the event and benefit from hearing these successful woman speak of their journey in the communications field. Whether you are inspired by photography, writing, or anything in the creative arts and communications, make a point to stop by the Freelance-A-Thon this weekend.

Door prizes and pizza will be offered to anyone who registers, and more information and details are available here.