My first semester in college I was a General Studies major. I transferred to English my sophomore year, on the track to get my BA in English and Master's in education in five years. Then I would be a high school English teacher, just like my boss in high school when I was an administrative teaching assistant. I quickly realized that if I didn't change my major, I would probably drop out of college or just suffer the painstaking death caused by being an English major. I thought about getting a degree in Marketing and getting a marketing job in sports, but word on the street was that Marketing majors ended up in retail.
So I changed majors again. And found my niche. My first semester as a Sport Management major with a Business Administration minor, I got a job in the Aggie Athletics in the Marketing and Promotions department, and I fell in love with my industry. There were only two only full time positions in the Marketing Department. The rest of the staff is made up of 25 student workers, who get assigned a particular sport for the year. We were responsible for all marketing and promotions of an assigned sport. Students received the same responsibility level as full time employees. I created a marketing plan for my particular sport, and once approved, implemented it accordingly. In addition to marketing, I helped run all of the in game promotions for my sport, including giveaways, half-time games, timeouts, player appearances, etc. The department is set up to give students the opportunity to get experience and skills that most students do not learn until after they graduate and get their first job.
All the while, I was learning in my major how tough the sports industry is to break into. Networking is everything. Crappy pay and even crappier hours are the rule, not the occasional exception. Working at a professional team is highly unlikely because of the enormous number of people that want those jobs.You have to be willing to start at small organization. Being a woman in the field creates its own added challenges. It could takes years, to get to where you want to be, if ever. Sounds pretty miserable, huh? Well, it was too late. I had already completely fallen in love with my job in athletics. Nothing could stop me now. I would make it.
So I picked up and moved across the country the day after graduation for an internship with the 2010 Insight Bowl, 2011 Fiesta Bowl, and 2011 BCS National Championship Game. My months were jam packed full of coordinating the 2,000 participants from the more than 90 units in the 40th Annual Fiesta Bowl Parade, getting instructions and credentials to more than 400 parade volunteers, meeting with caterers, vendors, and committees, collecting TV script information, organizing my Fiesta Bowl game day volunteers, and planning an outdoor Parade VIP party for 1,000 people. Not to mention the two VIP parties for 5,000 people for bowl major bowl games. Oh, and trying to find a full time job in the mist of the craziness.
I did what I had to do. I worked hard during college, and gave up a lot of nights and weekends and spring breaks so I would do my absolute best. I took an internship after college, because that's how you get your foot in the door. I networked, wrote cover letters like a champ, obsessively edited my resume, and used my contacts like nobody's business. Those of you who know me, know that I got my happily ever after working as an event coordinator for the Houston Rockets.
For years, I have been working toward something. Doing whatever it took to be successful in my career. I've achieved everything I wanted.
So now what?
I've always had something I was working toward. There has always been a hurdle to overcome, then a dream achieved. Honestly, I have no idea what to do with myself. By God's grace, I have achieved everything I wanted. Now, I'm not even sure what I want next...or now! It's a horrible feeling for somebody who always has a dream. It doesn't even matter if the dream changes, as long as I have something I'm working towards (hence, three different majors in college). According to Strengths Finder 2.0, one of my strengths is that I'm futuristic. It doesn't feel too much like a strength right now.
I'm at a loss.
So I changed majors again. And found my niche. My first semester as a Sport Management major with a Business Administration minor, I got a job in the Aggie Athletics in the Marketing and Promotions department, and I fell in love with my industry. There were only two only full time positions in the Marketing Department. The rest of the staff is made up of 25 student workers, who get assigned a particular sport for the year. We were responsible for all marketing and promotions of an assigned sport. Students received the same responsibility level as full time employees. I created a marketing plan for my particular sport, and once approved, implemented it accordingly. In addition to marketing, I helped run all of the in game promotions for my sport, including giveaways, half-time games, timeouts, player appearances, etc. The department is set up to give students the opportunity to get experience and skills that most students do not learn until after they graduate and get their first job.
All the while, I was learning in my major how tough the sports industry is to break into. Networking is everything. Crappy pay and even crappier hours are the rule, not the occasional exception. Working at a professional team is highly unlikely because of the enormous number of people that want those jobs.You have to be willing to start at small organization. Being a woman in the field creates its own added challenges. It could takes years, to get to where you want to be, if ever. Sounds pretty miserable, huh? Well, it was too late. I had already completely fallen in love with my job in athletics. Nothing could stop me now. I would make it.
So I picked up and moved across the country the day after graduation for an internship with the 2010 Insight Bowl, 2011 Fiesta Bowl, and 2011 BCS National Championship Game. My months were jam packed full of coordinating the 2,000 participants from the more than 90 units in the 40th Annual Fiesta Bowl Parade, getting instructions and credentials to more than 400 parade volunteers, meeting with caterers, vendors, and committees, collecting TV script information, organizing my Fiesta Bowl game day volunteers, and planning an outdoor Parade VIP party for 1,000 people. Not to mention the two VIP parties for 5,000 people for bowl major bowl games. Oh, and trying to find a full time job in the mist of the craziness.
I did what I had to do. I worked hard during college, and gave up a lot of nights and weekends and spring breaks so I would do my absolute best. I took an internship after college, because that's how you get your foot in the door. I networked, wrote cover letters like a champ, obsessively edited my resume, and used my contacts like nobody's business. Those of you who know me, know that I got my happily ever after working as an event coordinator for the Houston Rockets.
For years, I have been working toward something. Doing whatever it took to be successful in my career. I've achieved everything I wanted.
So now what?
I've always had something I was working toward. There has always been a hurdle to overcome, then a dream achieved. Honestly, I have no idea what to do with myself. By God's grace, I have achieved everything I wanted. Now, I'm not even sure what I want next...or now! It's a horrible feeling for somebody who always has a dream. It doesn't even matter if the dream changes, as long as I have something I'm working towards (hence, three different majors in college). According to Strengths Finder 2.0, one of my strengths is that I'm futuristic. It doesn't feel too much like a strength right now.
I'm at a loss.
Comments
You may be "at a loss" but at least you are NOT lost :)
And don't worry, little lamb, the Shepherd will show you the way...
Love,
Mom