Honors: Formal Retrospective

As a senior who graduates in close to a week from now, I go back to that first day of Honors H200 and I can only wonder what was going through my mind as I was a late acceptant who had a year and a half to complete the program with no clue or plan going into that first day of what the honors college journey would bring for me. Nervousness and excitement to do something I was told by many was nearly impossible. I relished the challenge selfishly. Not out of the fact that I am trying to be a jerk but knowing that this is how my life has been categorized by many when I went into college for what many would say is a misunderstood major in sports management and was told I’d be stupidly lucky to land into what I wanted to do. But that first day of honors and meeting my professor Dr. Swinford and my classmates who were all in the same boat, I thought maybe I could do this and continue to graduate a semester early. 9 weeks later and with multiple projects and finished products focused on honors college and what my journey could be/ I knew that this was one hundred percent possible and would just make me work harder than before to do so. When I see what I wrote I want to become a statement in which you were tasked with telling the class what you want not only from your schooling and time in honors college but what you want as a person I believe who heartedly that I have done that to a tee. I wrote, “I want to impact people's lives every single day because people spend large sums of time and money to attend sports events so doing my job makes an experience that will last for a lifetime”. Little would I know that 8 months later unknowingly then I would be working in the NCAA National Offices on a 10.5-million-dollar basketball program focused on providing close to 1,000 kids with the chance to make their and their families' lives better through talent, skill, and hard work. Then little would I know I would take that and bring that hit even closer to home with my full-time semester-long internship with the Indianapolis High School Athletic Association, an organization that has provided me and my sisters with the chance of a lifetime to be a part of something bigger than ourselves in education-based athletics programs. Who knew in August of 2023 I would be laying out all these things that I would go on to do and be a part of all before the day I graduate? This is also self-evident in my I want to become statement where I told all that sports are something that I want all to experience regardless, the love I have had inside of these sports organizations and programs is something that I wanted to radiate, and I believe I have done exactly so and will continue to do every day.

 

The work that I have done in my time in the honors college is something that I will be proud of forever in all honesty while many were nothing short of very long endeavors, I believe all this work has made me not only a better student but a better person and professional. From my engaged learning experiences during my time in the Honors College, I actively sought opportunities that align with its aspiration for students to engage in diverse learning experiences. From my study abroad program in Cruise Line Management was transformative, merging international and cultural experiences with applied learning in sports management. The insights gained from observing organizational operations aboard the ship and interviewing crew members enriched my understanding of global perspectives. Similarly, my research on rebranding in sports organizations and competitive parity in sports systems reflects my commitment to research-driven exploration of industry-critical topics to the ecosystem of legislation and regulations regarding competitive balance.  As well the progression of my academic and professional journey highlights the development of essential skills. In H200, I primarily approached challenges with a theoretical mindset. Today, through projects like the Sports Management Club initiative, I have sharpened my communication, problem-solving, and innovation skills. Organizing resume feedback and mock interviews not only benefitted peers but also allowed me to refine my ability to collaborate effectively and lead civic-minded efforts within my community. The Honors College has been a hub for intellectual rewiring and development for me. From my honors project on rebranding to my current marketing pitch for future Sports Management students, I have become an active participant in curating knowledge that bridges academic theories with real-world applications. These experiences have pushed me to think critically, act creatively, and pursue excellence in every endeavor. Perhaps the most fulfilling aspect of my time here is the sense of connection I’ve cultivated. Whether collaborating with peers in the Sports Management Club, engaging in research that serves broader academic and industry communities, or contributing to service-oriented projects, I’ve developed a profound bond with Honors College and its community. This connection has inspired me to give back, as seen in my efforts to mentor and empower fellow students.

When reflecting on all these different artifacts and projects that I have been a part of in my time at IU Indianapolis and with the honors college I would say for me they have been one of the most exciting and fulfilling pieces of my education. The pride and passion that I had for each of these projects due to the freedom of topic and project style choice was honestly awesome. The learning, growth, and perspective of a soon-to-be graduate is this these projects aren’t what you think they would be just something to do for the credit. They will allow you to build skills and aptitudes that will drive you forward in life. Being passionate about what you do is probably the best part of my journey, being able to passionately connect with your work will provide more fulfillment and pride than any other random assignment will. I believe these projects and credits we “are required to do” don’t feel as if they would be a requirement but a privilege for the advancement of yourself and learning that no single topic in a class could teach you. The growth I have made not only for myself, but others is something that I will hold dearly to my heart as I move forward on my path in life. These moments present great challenges to all for self-discovery and a journey of evolution through education which will pay dividends not only in graduation but the next steps whatever they be. My work is connected to my professors and others that I have learned and gleaned from in my time in college and while they follow what Dr. Pierce, Dr. Sherman, and countless others have taught me in my program I believe they also reflect me professionally and personally and these projects will be things that I continue to be prideful in and hopefully will help future generations of students to understand that you can do whatever you care about and make it something powerful and impactful to your own journey.

My growth within the honors college is one thing that I will be forever grateful for these experiences have led me to a place I would have never found outside and made me understand the impact of my work not only on the grade or credit reflection but on the community, experiential learning, innovation, and so many other aspects of what learning should be. I would say my alignment was why I chose IU Indianapolis a little over 4ish years ago I wanted a unique learning experience, and unlike others, I wanted to be challenged internally and externally to develop. This development is not linear or exponential but one of microscopic changes and new twists pushing me forward to what I want and using my education to provide a base greater than I could ever have simply imagined as a freshman or even a year and a half ago. I will be graduating like I said in a week or so. Momentous for me personally I have to give all the credit to what the honors college and IU Indianapolis SHHS and the college in general have provided for me a kid who had no clue what he wanted to do in high school and luckily just found what I will be my passion now and forever. My learning will drive me now and forever to continue to reinvent and reimagine the world for the better. While I have no clue what my path will be as I begin to stay on with the IHSAA while interviewing for full-time positions in January I will know what I did was special and that piece of paper that people refer to it as will mean a whole lot more to me it will signify a journey unlike many other personally and professionally which will propel me forward and I will be ever grateful for such a time and sad knowing it will be over for now.