Aurora University Athletics

In early June, Aurora University student-athlete, Makayla Fincher (women's volleyball) participated in the 2019 NCAA Career in Sports Forum (CSF) at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana.
 
At the completion of the forum, she took time to reflect on their experiences as part of 200 student-athletes selected to participate in the four-day event.

Makayla Fincher -
The forum allowed me to learn more about the various paths you can take to get into the sports industry along with how many different opportunities there are within the field. It also allowed me to connect with others Student Athletes looking to work in the same industry as well as professionals that are currently in the field and continue to expand my professional network. The forum led me to see the opportunities ahead of me, and the steps that I need to take in order to be successful upon graduation.

There are two quotes that stick with me from the forum, "You can't conquer what you don't confront"- Curtis Hill. This quote reminds me to always accept the challenges that come my way. And "Get 1% better every day"-Matt Goff. This makes me always want to better myself and always learn something new every day.

As I work towards graduation in December, the impact AU has made on my career is the connections that I have made through being not only a student athlete but also an active member on campus. These connections made with various faculty, staff and coaches have helped me to gain experience and knowledge from those currently in the field, as well as build a professional network that I know I can always rely on for guidance. AU has allowed me the opportunity to get involved as a student athlete with internships, on-campus employment, multiple clubs and organizations, and volunteer experiences that have guided me to the career path that I am on. AU has given me the opportunity to graduate with 3 majors (Business Administration, Sports Management, Nonprofit Leadership Studies) while being a student athlete and still providing me the opportunities to expand my experience to prepare me my next steps after college.