Think and Do.

I have always contemplated the idea of pursuing a Master’s degree, but I honestly never seriously thought that it was something that I could accomplish. The typical doubt and uncertainty of a working professional always crept in - “I don’t have enough time.”, “It'll cost too much.”, or simply “I don’t think I can do that.” Well, little did I know that opportunity would present itself in a way that I just couldn’t resist. Working with North Carolina Cooperative Extension as a 4-H Extension Agent allowed me to utilize tuition waivers to pursue a Master’s degree and ultimately face my fear. After all, I am a fierce competitor and always up for a challenge - thanks to my extensive career in various sports throughout my lifetime. My passion for recreation and sports led me down this educational path and it was heavily influenced by my new role in my county’s Parks and Recreation Department.

So in the Fall of 2019, I was officially enrolled in the Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Sport Management graduate program at North Carolina State University. Initial enrollment didn’t completely put the fear to rest, but it was the first step - a very large step nevertheless. I’ll never forget receiving the email to attend our cohort orientation and that really got the jitters flowing again. For lack of better words, I called it nervous excitement when a coworker asked me was I ready to begin the program. Of course I was ready, right? I’ll be attending school at a prestigious University that I’m familiar with because of my current job, the program is a fully online format, and most of the cost is covered through my workplace! It’s a win-win situation, but that’s not the whole story. It’s complicated and here’s why. I had never taken a Graduate level course before, I hadn’t even written a college level paper in nearly a decade, and lastly it never seemed that I learned well in online classes. Also, add in a little friendly banter about attending a rival University from your undergraduate years and suddenly that college feeling returns. I grew up as a loyal UNC Tar Heels sports fan, I attended East Carolina University to pursue Information Technology, and now I currently work for NC State University. So when I said, “it’s complicated”, that’s what I meant. Strange thing is, I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world! They’ve all played an essential role in my life and I wouldn't be the individual that I am today without each of them.

The Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Sport Management Master’s program at North Carolina State University is absolutely phenomenal. The reason this program is so extraordinary is because of the incredible professors and personnel that leads and support each cohort. Everyone is fully invested in conducting the highest quality of education possible and they truly value each students’ learning experience. All of the additional feedback on projects, the extra Zoom calls to help understand difficult concepts, and answering numerous emails never went unnoticed and I most definitely appreciated every ounce of effort that each professor put into ensuring I receive a first-class education. I sincerely want to thank every professor, instructor, teaching assistant, administrator, and support personnel for helping me through this program - THANK YOU! Erin Adair is a great asset to this program with her timely help and support, Dr. Bocarro has the most contagious enthusiasm for teaching and learning, and Mr. Dave Olsen has the most vivid storytelling of real-world situations to help explain topics. I could go on for days about each of my professors as they were all valuable to my journey in this program. Thank you for challenging me, thank you for supporting me, and thank you for sharing your knowledge with me. Thank you for creating an open two-way street in the learning process that not only allowed our cohort to learn from you all, but for us to learn from one another. That is one of the greatest strengths of this exceptional program. Joining this program has been one of the best decisions I’ve made and I know that I am a better person because of it. I’ve learned so much to help move me forward in my career that includes: leadership concepts, operating GIS software, managing resources, data, venues, and marketing efforts, and so much more!

The journey through this program was very challenging at times, but it has proven to be worth it. I’ve been molded me into a better person because it forced me to find refuge outside of my comfort zone. There were plenty of late night writing sessions, early morning studying, double checking deadlines, and reading on lunch breaks at work. I embraced the challenge and I am so glad that I did. There are three pillars of learning and success that helped me through this program: Work-Life Balance, Support, and Inspiration. As a working professional, I needed all three to get me through. I look forward to taking what I have learned and not only applying it to my personal and professional life, but to utilize it in a way that creates positive change and impact on my community and this world. This has been an exceptional experience and I am so proud to have been a part of this cohort, this program, and North Carolina State University!