By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University student-athletes Alicia Goetz (Jr., Poulsbo, WA/North Kitsap HS) and Joshua Perez (Jr., Los Angeles, CA/John Marshall HS) attended the NCAA Career in Sports Forum from June 2-5 at the NCAA national office in Indianapolis, Indiana. Goetz is a guard on the women's basketball team and plays second base on the softball team. Perez is a win on the men's basketball team. The Career in Sports Forum included 200 student-athletes from throughout the NCAA learning about potential careers in sports while receiving the chance to network with current athletic professionals.
According to the NCAA, participants heard from more than 90 speakers in panel discussions, breakout sessions and keynote presentations. The four-day event was designed to help student-athletes gain a significant understanding of athletics as a career path, while allowing them to see where they might fit into athletics in a variety of settings.
Student-athletes who attended the Career in Sports Forum were able to meet with fellow student-athletes as well as coaches and administrators at the campus, conference, and national levels. Goals of the event were to teach participants how their personal strengths can intesect with career opportunities, provide tangible experiences to help them move forward in their careers, help them prepare a professional development strategy, and give them chances to learn about coaching, being an athletics administrator or working at the national level in athletics or within a sports-governing organization.
The student-athletes who were chosen to attend the Career in Sports Forum were nominated by their college, university, or conference. They were in their third, fourth, or fifth year of eligibility, or were graduate students. Each student-athlete had to participate in an NCAA-sponsored sport in 2021-22.
"I am grateful to the NCAA and their Leadership Development division for hosting an event like the Career in Sports Forum," Willamette Associate AD/Senior Woman Administrator Leslie Shevlin said. "Our student-athletes always return from these workshops with innovative ideas and passion for intercollegiate athletics. I am thrilled that Josh and Alicia were able to participate and I know they are excited to share their experience in an effort to make the experience for all of our student-athletes a better one."
Goetz and Perez were motivated to apply to the NCAA and to attend the event once they were selected.
"I wanted to gain a larger understanding of the possibilities of working in sports," said Perez, who completed an internship this spring with Willamette Director of Athletics Rob Passage. "I also wanted to connect with both athletes and professionals in the industry."
"I wanted to learn about how coaching and administrative roles work, and if it would be possible for me ... one day outside of being an athletic trainer," Goetz commented. Being able to find a job in the sports industry is hard, so I would like to be able to build connections and be given knowledge on how to step foot into this industry. I am still trying to figure out what I would like to do for my career, so I was hoping this forum would help point me in the direction that I am meant to go."
During the four days of the Career in Sports Forum several moments stood out for Goetz and Perez. Speakers made an impact, and interacting with the other students as well as the administrators was important.
"The most meaningful part of the Sports Forum for me was guest speaker Will Baggett, who discussed the importance of executive image," Goetz recalled. "It was meaningful to me because of the way he presented the topics while touching on information that was valuable and impactful to me. Some of the points he touched on were that it takes 4-7 seconds to make a first impression. One of his many quotes said, 'People don't know how much you know, until they know how much you care.' This tied into the fact that you can't control the cards that you were dealt, but you can control how you respond. I took his presentation to heart and it made me realize how important I am and that I can be successful no matter where I originated from. He made me feel like I can truly make a difference in this world."
"The connections and drive amongst everyone there were contagious," Perez noted. "Everyone there was motivated to grow and create new relationships."
Looking back on the event, Goetz could see the significance of learning how to create a professional development strategy.
"Gaining the knowledge of how to develop a career plan was probably one of my top interests when it came to this sports forum," she explained. "All I know is that I just want to help people develop themselves in a way they never thought they could. I want to learn how to make myself better so I can do the same for others."
For Perez, the event allowed him to learn more about himself and his areas of interest within athletics.
"I was able to discover ways in which I can continue to maximize my strengths and minimize my weaknesses," he said. "I was also able to gather more information that will set me up for success in a career in EDI-based work (equity, diversity, inclusion) in athletics.
Hearing from the various presenters who were professionals in their various jobs in college athletics and throughout the athletic industry was an important part of the Career in Sports Forum. Just interacting with leaders in athletics was a great experience. The chance to learn from highly-respected administrators and coaches provided an exceptional level of learning. Sometimes the sessions allowed the student-athletes to realize facts about the leaders they encountered.
"I thought that high-up directors in sports were on an unreachable pedestal," Perez said about his thoughts prior to the forum. "By talking with professionals I realized that 10 to 15 years ago these individuals were in the same exact forums with the same aspirations that we have now. I learned that it never hurts to reach out to professionals. They may not always reach back, but there will be a few ... and those relationships can help you succeed."
"I learned an easy way to share my personal profile information such as my social media accounts and email," Goetz said. "I also learned the correct way to present myself in front of those who I am looking to make connections with. The main thing I took away from networking is to follow up. There are people out there who want to help you succeed, but they can't help you unless you ask."
Another key outcome of the Career in Sports Forum was learning about the many jobs within athletics, both at the collegiate and professional levels, as well as the many skills that student-athletes can develop and teach to others.
"I was surprised the most by the amount of careers that were in the sports industry and the other ways that you can make a difference, especially with the development and identity of student-athletes," Goetz commented. "There are so many different ways to make an impact. I just have to find the one that best suits me and my abilities to help others.
"Also, I learned that the timeliness of responses is everything and that no matter what you are doing, someone is always watching you," Goetz added. "Every interaction that you have is an interview. It's the meetings after the meetings that always make a difference and sometimes your work identity is just not enough because relationships are critical for survival. I learned that there is more to me than just being a student-athlete and how important it is to be myself and know my purpose. An important thing I learned was that body language can be misinterpreted especially when it comes to how you stand with the position of your hands."
One really big outcome of the forum was that each student-athlete was able to meet many other student-athletes. Experiences were shared and friendships were formed.
"It gave me the ability to create friendships that I will cherish forever," Perez noted. "Everyone had different goals, but the same drive. I also got the confidence to get outside my shell and push forward toward my goals. In addition, I was able to connect with another Mexican-American athlete who played soccer at Syracuse. The smallest connection between us sparked a conversation about soccer and created a friendship for the entirety of the forum."
"When it came to interacting, we weren't afraid to put ourselves out there and make new friends," Goetz said. "We were all connected through sports, but we managed to connect outside the world of sports by learning other people's lifestyles and interests. I felt like I knew these student-athletes for more than just four days. That's how well we all got along. I came out with new friends who I am committed to staying in touch with even if they live across the country. No one was alone during
the forum even when we explored the city. There was always someone there to make new memories with. I know these relationships that I have built will continue to last thanks to this forum."
The knowledge learned, the encounters with administrators and leaders, as well as the friendships established can now be combined as the student-athletes progress individually toward their careers. It's likely that many of the student-athletes will continue to pursue careers in athletics. They are now better prepared and ready to go.
"I am able to take all the knowledge that I was given and change my approach when it comes to my future," Goetz asserted. "I will build meaningful relationships and become more aware of people's perceptions and first impressions. I will present myself in a professional manner while connecting with others to reach a common goal. I will be the type of person that you will want to see after a long 16-hour day. I am grateful to have been selected to attend this forum. I am thankful for all of the opportunities and insight that I have gained and for the possibility of furthering my career in the sports industry ... I have connections, knowledge, and experiences that I will never forget."
