The Best Year of My Life

There’s something about sports. I mean there’s a reason we are all in this class whether it’s our inherent interest in sports, the allure that the title “Sports and Society” holds, or our love of the amazing Alan Abrahamson. We are all here together talking about sports (or Taylor Swift) in some way or another at the end of the day. 

It is fascinating to me how sports bring so much discourse to our American tapestry. 

When I transferred to UCLA, I knew that I wanted to be involved with UCLA Athletics, in a professional manner. It was summer/fall 2021, covid was still more present than what was ideal for starting up at a new school, and for going to events by California standards. 

That very summer I had been a visiting student with Rice University studying Sports Management under Clark Haptonstall. This was one of the most rewarding summers of my academic career. 

In my Sports Ethics course I honestly learned more than I could’ve ever imagined. We put together projects and presentations each week about the topics we were studying. From Bob Probert and head injuries in the NHL, to soda sponsorships within sports, and Jimmy Snyder, I became so much more aware of the multifaceted world of sports. 

While in the program, I diligently checked the UCLA Athletics website for student internship openings. 

Now as you may or may not know, UCLA is on the quarter system, meaning we did not start classes until the end of September, almost the beginning of October, so it was a long long summer as my community college commencement had been in May. 

At the tail end of my summer, with no job and having already moved into my Westwood townhome, I was eager to do just about anything as I was waiting to start school. 

Call it nepo-baby if you want, but I went to work for my mom with ABC as a production assistant. 

Truly it was not the prettiest work. 

She and her team were working the Elizabeth Holmes trial. With the high profile trial, the federal court was giving tickets for the media and the public on a first come first serve basis.

So, there I was sitting in my camping chair at 02:00 in the morning on 1st Street in downtown San Jose, first on line, waiting for the courthouse to open at 07:00 or 08:00am, so my mom and her crew could roll up, hop on line with me, and have a full night's rest. 

I still have my ticket from the courthouse on the opening day of the Elizabeth Holmes trial. It’s in my keepsake/credential box, something I look forward to sharing with my potential future child as I absolutely loved going through my mom’s credentials as a kiddo, and still do to this day. 

In the moment, I did not realize what that summer would truly do for me or the weight that it would carry.  

When I got back to Westwood from the first week of the trial, a student assistant position with UCLA Athletic Communications had been posted. 

Naturally, the very first thing I did was look up the person who I was supposed to send my resume and cover letter to … and let me tell you, looking him up made me so intimidated that I did not even want to apply. His LinkedIn included jobs with the Pac-12, Lakers, and Chargers, along with being a UCLA grad.

Truly, I thought that being a community college student, there was no way he was ever going to consider me or take me seriously for the position. 

My mom encouraged me to apply anyway, so I did. You know, a little Wayne Gretzky, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, moment. 

To my surprise about a week or so later I received an email from this guy inviting me to an in person interview.

To this day, this has been my only in person office interview. 

He was so impressed with my Rice course and my little ABC gig. I felt so guilty about ABC, it felt like I didn’t deserve to have that on my resume, but I did. 

We had an amazing chat in his office. I learned about the role and that he had held this position while he was an undergrad student at UCLA just a few years back. It was truly incredible.

The following week I started work as an unpaid student assistant in the SID office. On my first day I got a tour of Pauley Pavilion. It was just me, my boss, and Pauley. 

I primarily worked for the person who hired me, doing a lot of prep for the Women’s Basketball season, learning how to use the Adobe Creative Cloud, and becoming familiar with the team. 

The job naturally progressed. I built trust with other SID’s in the office and was always eager to help on a project and learn something new. 

Men’s Volleyball quickly became one of my favorite sports to work with. The atmosphere is intense yet relaxed and laid back, and the players and coaches are pretty much always cool with doing media. 

I was working either the MPSF or NCAA tournament for Men’s Volley. My boss was up in the stands on the Wooden Way side of Pauley. I went and sat up there with him and he told me that it was official, he was leaving UCLA Athletics. 

He had talked about it, so in a way I knew it was coming, I just didn't know when. It just kinda felt weird that I was going to be there and he wasn’t, because if he hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have been. 

Nonetheless, I was so happy for him because I knew it was what he wanted, and it was going to be a great move for him. 

Alan always tells us how this is a relationship business and I truly cannot emphasize that enough. 

My boss went on to work for the Pac-12, which led to me working with the Pac as well. I was also able to parlay our relationship and UCLA connections to opportunities with the Chargers. 

Relationships also parlayed to being in the job where I learned the very most: 

I learned how important life is. 

How important once in a lifetime really is. 

I learned about my own emotions and limits. 

I learned about my work ethic and style. 

Most importantly I learned what questions to ask in an interview. 

To have everything written down. 

To not make consolations and agreements over the phone.

And to never say yes if something is offered immediately. 

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

Needless to say, up until this past year, my young career had been pretty smooth. 

I was grateful to be back in SoFi this past season, and once again, a relationship made in the field led to a new opportunity and ultimately to my current role. 

Relationships are important, this is a relationship business, this is a business of trust. 

This past year has been the most challenging and the most rewarding. 

Academically speaking, UCLA was a breeze, I just knew how to execute what was assigned, it was natural. I was almost always in a flow state when it came to my studies. 

At USC, that has not been the case. Journalistic writing has been anything but natural for me. I cannot confidently say that I have ever been in a flow state when it has come to writing here, except for maybe in these blog assignments for Alan’s class. 

I am so grateful for this year, and what it has taught me. 

Truly it was the year I didn’t know I needed. 

I love my young career and I love what I’ve learned and built. 

And so, to the boys who told me that football and sports aren’t for girls when I was seven, you can suck my dick. But that’s a blog for another time.