Innovision Fall 2018

FALL 2018 | 31 during practices. The football practices at Lafayette College are very fast paced and take a high level of attention in order to understand where you are supposed to be in the next two minutes and what needs to be set up before the players get there. What is something you learned on the job that you wouldn’t have learned in the classroom? I would never have been able to learn the care and amount of effort that goes into making some of the football equipment practice or game day ready inside a classroom. There are hours of work that goes into equipment after the football players are done with practice before it is ready to be used again. Also, I have learned that things happened to not go as planned more often than expected. Who is this position for? Someone interested in….. This position is for someone who loves football. A person who can handle a heavy workload and long weeks, but also a good time with good people in a good environment. Though the hours are long and the work is not always easy, the people that I was able to work with on a daily basis made my position enjoyable. My site supervisor, Mr. Martin, was extremely welcoming and made me feel comfortable on my very first day of work. This position is for someone who understands and enjoys collegiate sports, but who also wants to learn more. What are your plans for the future? I plan to use this internship as a great stepping-stone in my career path and a resume builder. No amount of extracurricular activities or good grades can compare to having experience in the field in which you want to start a career. It is hard to get someone to give you a first chance. Now that my site supervisor has given me the opportunity to experience a professional work environment, I am optimistic that I will be able to land a more permanent position shortly after graduation. What did you learn at KU that made you feel the most prepared for your internship? Leadership and Team Building was a great course that taught me a lot in regards to building great working relationships. This class also helped me to determine when the correct times are to assert yourself in a work situation and show that you are able to step up to the plate. Another class that helped benefit me during my internship experience was Sports Ethics. Sports Ethics showed me when and how to make the right choices, especially when there is responsibility and accountability at stake. Sports Psychology helped me gain a better understanding of what the players are thinking during our daily practices and games. Due to the knowledge obtained from this class, I was able to get inside the minds of the players and anticipate their needs during practices and games. What do you think are the most important qualities for someone to excel in this role? Should they prepare to be open minded, self-motivated, or creative? I have learned that it is very important to be able to take initiative, stay motivated and pay great attention to detail as an equipment intern. I know that these are traits that the coaches look for and appreciate because it has been communicated to me a few times JEROME PLEISS Jerome Pleiss is a Sports Management major who interns in Lafayette College’s athletic department. During his internship, he has worked closely with the football equipment. “I have learned that it is very important to be able to take initiative, stay motivated, and pay great attention to detail as an equipment intern.”