After tearing my Achilles just two days prior I was now forced to focus on being apart of the sports industry in a way other than being an athlete. I always knew I wanted to be a sports reporter and taking part in the retreat allowed me to rub shoulders with mentors who were willing to help those like me striving to be where they are some day.
I would be lying if I said I was prepared for what was to come at the first ever Game Changing Retreat, but the truth is that I simply was not. Yes, I did the pre-retreat homework, which consisted of reading a book from a specific list, reaching out to two other cohorts, contacting your mentor and one other mentor, and completing any other homework assigned by your mentor.
For the past five months, I have had the privilege to work with ESPN Events as an Event Assistant (Intern) for the 2017 fall season. Through this internship, I had to opportunity to work on a number of basketball and football events with my primary focus being the MEAC/ SWAC Challenge and the Celebration Bowl.
When faced with the decision to select an enrichment trip, I had no idea of where I wanted to go, learn, or experience. Two of my fellow peers from the Winning Edge informed me about the Sports Management Worldwide Football Career Conference during the NFL Combine and encouraged me to tag along.
My introduction into the sports industry came on my 21st birthday in the pressbox of Neyland Stadium. One week prior, I emailed every public relations professional in the city of Knoxville and only one replied. Tom Satkowiak of the University of Tennessee’s Media Relations department replied and offered me a position to volunteer within the department to gain experience in the sports industry.
