Although the 2014 season is just around the corner, LeTourneau University senior Ana Ramos of the women's soccer team recently participated in the NCAA Career in Sports Forum in Indianapolis in order to prepare for life after her soccer career ends.
"Supporting NCAA student-athlete leaders with their education is a key goal for the Association," said Dr. Bernard Franklin, NCAA executive vice president of membership and student-athlete affairs and chief inclusion officer. "Our Career in Sports Forum puts student-athletes and postgraduate scholarship recipients in a non-traditional academic setting where they can learn directly from successful leaders, which can have a positive impact on their future after graduation."
The Career in Sports Forum was created to provide student-athletes with a broader scope of the career tracks available within the sports business, with a primary focus on intercollegiate athletics. More than 450,000 student-athletes participate in 23 sports during each academic year, however, only 200 invited to the forum.
During the forum, the participants learn how personal values intersect with career opportunities, how to develop actionable plans for personal growth and development, and how to benefit from the opportunity to network with key decision-makers on campus and at the NCAA. They also acquire options on better understanding how behavioral styles impact individual effectiveness, while gaining accurate views on the roles of their coaches and administrators.
Ramos, a kinesiology major at LeTourneau with aspirations of becoming a collegiate coach, learned many valuable lessons, such as networking and leadership at the forum.
"It was stated numerous times by several different speakers throughout the event, 'It's not who you know, but who knows you,'" Ramos said. "We were reminded that networking can happen anywhere and it is important to be prepared."
On the opening day of the forum, participants identified values, recognized their transferable skills and explored the basics of networking. Then, participants were broken up into color teams and paired up with a facilitator.
The facilitator for Ramos' group was Appalachian State head women's soccer coach, Sarah Strickland. Being paired up with Strickland had an impact on the Arlington native.
"She was able to help me understand what it is going to take to become a coach on the collegiate level," Ramos said. "She has endless energy and helped me break out of my shell to fully engage in the various activities."
Joan Cronan, women's athletic director emeritus and adviser and consultant to the chancellor at the University of Tennessee also made a lasting impact on Ramos.
"She talked about how it is better to serve than to receive," Ramos noted. "She also stressed that you are accountable for yourself and responsible for your teammates, as well as the need to discipline yourself before someone else has to, to let people know you are there for them and willing to help, and lastly, topractice servant leadership, integrity, and encourage others so that they have a sense of worth."
Ramos and the 2014 women's soccer team will begin its preparations on Saturday, August 16, for the season under new head coach John Antonisse.
