Homecoming

Last Friday I went to two of the homecoming symposium speeches. I went to the one where Nate from the Cleveland Indians spoke in Eppler and I went to the speech in the Student Union Theatre where there was a discussion panel. Nate's speech was about being sucessful. I liked hearing about the things he did to get to his position in Public Relations. He said that he had 3 internships and was working low paying jobs and had non challenging work when he first started for the Indians. He also talked about that there are two sides of pro organizations, the business side and the team operations side. If I worked in the pro's I would work for an NBA team and would want to work in the basketball operations side. I would love to be a scout, coach, or anything working directly with the team.

The discussion panel had seven people who worked in the sport industry. Some of the professionals said that if they could have done college all over again that they would have been more involved by volunteering in the Athletic Office or getting experience in other ways. However I think it's tough to volunteer for positions in college, because it is so expensive and a lot of college students also don't have time like that, because a lot just try to work full or part time to live a simple life. One of the professionals said that it is very important to be professional. Most of the panel touched on how much influence references have in hiring. If they know someone mutual that you know and they ask them about you then they will take the mutual persons recommendation very seriously. Bob Mathakaw said that when he looks at resumes he wants to see other things just besides a degree. Another guy said he doesn't understand when a student doesn't have volunteer work and intenships on his resume, because he said it's easy when your in college. I kind of disagree with him, because he made it like it was so easy to volunteer and intern. I think if you have money then it is, but if you don't then it can be difficult.