Alumni Spotlight – Reflections from Recreational Sports Alumnus, Ryan Linstad

I worked for the Department of Recreational Sports at both the Adventure Leadership Institute’s Challenge Course and in the Operations Department at the Recreation Services Desk. Throughout my journey with Recreational Sports I had no idea I would be where I am today - a registered nurse.

It wasn’t until I left Oregon State University that I realized what great opportunities I had to take advantage of as a student, both as a student at the University but also within Recreational Sports. Still to this day as I reflect on my time at Recreational Sports, I am often taken aback by how much trust was placed on my fellow student-colleagues and me as leaders in the department.

Starting from what I thought were directionless-beginnings at the Adventure Leadership Institute’s Challenge Course would later serve as points of reflection.  As a leader in the ALI and at the Challenge Course, I learned how to ask thought-provoking, open questions which are the questions I must use daily as a nurse in order to elicit the most accurate information from my patients.

I ended up transitioning to serving at the Recreation Services Desk where I took on the role of supervisor. I never knew I would be accruing leadership skills or any applicable skills as I worked as a student. Skills I learned like delegation, teamwork, and collaboration carried over to my work in nursing school. There I quickly realized that many fellow students didn’t have the same opportunities I had as a student leader. After nursing school, as I began to apply for jobs, I could confidently say I had both experience and confidence in being a leader, thanks to Recreational Sports.

As I reflect about my time with Recreational Sports and as a student at Oregon State University, my fondest memories aren’t from the classes I took, but rather those associated with being a leader in Recreational Sports. I still recall the many days longboarding to and from meetings at Recreational Sports after the sudden departure of our former supervisor. I remember how my staff and I had to pull together and divide the job roles and responsibilities while hiring, scheduling, and keeping our members happy. I think back fondly of the many celebratory dinners we as a staff had during this period.

My time as a leader at the Challenge Course and at the Recreation Services Desk is always going to be a point of comparison for me.  When I come home from future shifts at the hospital I can only hope I can feel as accomplished as I did when I worked at Recreational Sports.