My Experiences

Throughout my time in school as well as various work experiences, I have learned a lot of valuable lessons that I plan to continue using in my future adventures.

Being Prepared

     Through my experience working in youth basketball, one of the biggest things I have come to learn is the importance of being prepared. We run multiple tournaments throughout the year which can go on for multiple days at a time. With kids ranging from 2nd grade all the way through high school varsity, it is important that everyone gets what they paid for so we maintain our positive relationships.

     Being prepared for these events has many different factors such as having schedules ready for them. For weekend tournaments, we try to ensure that the schedule is released by Wednesday so any participating programs have enough time to check their schedules and be prepared themselves. Another very important aspect is making sure we have enough gym space. As I mentioned earlier with so many teams for these various grade levels, we need to be sure that there are enough courts and nothing is being double booked.

     With these many different factors going into running the event, I have learned that is important to get out ahead of things and get them done. By being efficient and proactive, we can avoid any last second unforeseen problems. All of this makes events run much smoother and creates a better image for our company as we hope to keep these programs coming back to our events in the future. 

Networking

     If there was anything that I heard the most about during my time in school, it was networking. Meeting new people is one of the best ways to making yourself marketable. In a extremely competitive industry, knowing people can help give you an edge over the rest of the field. Luckily for me, during my time in school I was able to attend many different work experiences and conferences with many professionals currently in the field. One of the most notable of these events was the SEVT Conference where I was able to speak with current professionals. Here they shared insights from their past and valuable information they have incurred over the years.

     Another great way I was able to expand my network was through my work as an SPTE Mentor. This gave my a platform to meet new members into the Sports and Entertainment Management program at the school. I was able to share my experiences and help out these new young professionals in trying to find their stride. This was such a great experience because just how people helped me at the SEVT Conference, I was now able to help the next group of aspiring professionals.

Keeping an Open Mind

     In a tough and competitive industry, it is important to get a foot in the door anyway possible. There is going to be opportunities that are offered to you along the path of your career that may seem pointless and a waste of your time, but just know that they are not. When you take these tasks upon yourself, you have no idea who you may truly be impressing. The more you are willing to do, the more valuable you make yourself to any company that is lucky to have you.

     One of the greatest experiences I was able to participate in during my time in school was working the Masters Tournament. I got to work this event in two consecutive years and it taught me a lot. The hours can be grueling for 10 straight days, but it was important to remain upbeat. Whenever my boss had asked for something, I made sure to volunteer get it done as soon as possible. At the end of the weekend, I was able to talk with my boss and thank him for the opportunity and he told me he appreciated what I did throughout the week. That truly meant a lot to me and he told me to continue to work hard in whatever I did in the future.