Recreational Sports

Reflections from Recreational Sports Alumna, Tram Hoang

When I was a freshman at Oregon State University, Dixon Recreation Center quickly became my haven – my special place to retreat to and a sanctuary for me. Working out daily wasn’t something that I had made a part of my life before college, and being able to do that through Recreational Sports helped me adjust to college life, establish healthy habits, and feel great.

Four years later, Dixon Recreation Center continued to be my haven. However, by then, I saw Recreational Sports for what it really was – a center for student empowerment. I spent two years working on the Outreach & Marketing team in the Department of Recreational Sports and my only regret upon reflecting on my experience is that I didn't apply earlier!

Surrounded by supportive staff that would eventually turn into lifelong friends, I took on responsibilities that I never would have imagined taking on as “just a student.” My teammates and I contributed to department decision-making, created and implemented wellness and social media campaigns, hosted campus-wide events, and recruited and trained our own staff. As a supervisor, I was able to establish the pace and content of our work.

One of the greatest lessons I learned from working at Recreational Sports is that if you are passionate about something that needs to get done, you are the best one to do the job! I saw every single member of my team find or create their own passion project. It wasn't assigned, required, or asked of them, but when you work in such a wonderful environment, it's almost impossible NOT to be inspired!

In my case, I was able to couple my passion for health equity with Recreational Sports by conducting research for an undergraduate thesis. With unrelenting support from colleagues and a lot of late nights, I finished that passion project of mine. I can proudly say that my thesis, "Ethnic Minority Students' Barriers and Facilitators to Engaging in Campus Recreation" is taking me to a national conference in March where I will share my passion with hundreds of other individuals in the field of health and physical education.

Working at Recreational Sports wasn't just "a college job." It was a real job; one that helped develop my skills and talents and a job that provided me with the unique skills and abilities sought after by employers. Thanks to my engagement with Recreational Sports, I now work as a nutrition educator at low-income schools in Portland. I am still spreading a message of wellness, and always seeking to empower my students, just as Recreational Sports does for everyone who walks through its doors.