My time with the Department of Recreational Sports at Oregon State University was a transformative experience. Not only did I gain transferable skills which prepared me for a great job opportunity immediately after graduate school, but I created relationships and lasting bonds that I’ll have for a lifetime.

Adam and Tom Kirch

I arrived in Corvallis in August of 2012 to start my position as a Graduate Assistant (GA) in the Sports & Special Programs office within Recreational Sports. Being born and raised in California, my journey to Corvallis represented the first time in 17 years that I had ever lived outside of California. I had recently finished my undergraduate degree at UC Davis in California and I had never really planned to spend time outside of California before finding a wonderful opportunity at OSU. Being 21 at the time, I was worried about the same things that all college students and new employees worry about: Would I fit in? Would I find friends? Would my ideas be accepted? Would I find an opportunity to grow? As it turned out, the answer to all of those questions was a resounding “Yes!

Wheelchair

In my position as a GA, I was given the opportunity to oversee 80-100 student employees in a variety of positions, work with 40 club sports in a number of different ways, facilitate many intramural leagues, implement various trainings, learn about the importance of program assessment, get hands on experience in program marketing, lead staff trainings, learn the basics of program budgeting, work on a strategic plan with others in our unit area, conduct staff interviews, and also work as a Center Manager for the Operations unit over Summer break.  As I reflect, during my time at Recreational Sports I was given an opportunity to grow, to experiment, and to define who I wanted to be in the future.

A few highlights come to mind when I think about the value of my time in Recreational Sports at OSU:

  • I successfully started Wheelchair Basketball as an Intramural Sport at OSU, for which I am most proud of. Students now have an opportunity to participate in a programming opportunity that helps promote the values of diversity, inclusivity, and fun.
  • I worked with KBVR-TV to broadcast the Intramural Basketball Championships via livestream and on cable during the winter 2014 basketball season.
  • I was fortunate to experience camaraderie of all staff, professionals and  students alike, at Recreational Sports.

I owe a great deal of my growth to my mentors and friends at Oregon State University. Though I can’t provide shout-outs to everyone in the department (I wish I could!), there are a few people who made my time at OSU extremely special.

I learned a lot about patience, perseverance, and keeping the big picture in mind from Dave Fehring. I learned the value of being succinct, organized, and accountable from Mitch Wiltbank. I learned the true meaning of working until the job is done and how to keep smiling through even the most difficult times from Joe Schaffer. I learned more about the “Ops” side of the building and a lot of valuable life lessons, like “Don’t bet against the Seahawks,” from Troy Snow. I learned the value of veteran leadership, how to be a successful professional in the field of recreation, and the value of mentorship from Tom Kirch. Finally, I learned the true value of a coworker and friend having your back in every situation from Adam Burke, my fellow GA and roommate at OSU. 

Kyle Urban

While my time at Oregon State University ended in June of 2014, I was able to continue working in the field of recreation with the help from my Recreational Sports colleagues. I currently serve as one of the Competitive Sports Coordinators at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where I help facilitate the Intramural Sports and Club Sports programs. I wouldn’t have been able to land this position if it weren’t for everything I learned at Oregon State University. While it has only rained here three times since I started in July of 2014, I take solace in being one of the very few Californians who doesn’t immediately bust out an umbrella and complain about the “horrible” weather when a few raindrops fall. On those days, I’m taken back to my time in Beaver Nation, and I smile, remembering everything I experienced in my two years with Recreational Sports at Oregon State University.

Always and forever:  Go Beavs!