Academics Plus Athletics Equals Career by Madison

Academics Plus Athletics Equals Career by Madison - March 2025 Scholarship Essay

Under the blinding gymnasium lights, sneakers are squeaking, girls are screaming, the crowd is cheering, and the sound of a ball being hit echoes through the room. I stand on the court, sweaty, tired and exhausted from my first game of the season. I remember setting foot in the gym for the first time as a freshman not knowing how the game of volleyball was played. I was confused, insecure and nervous, knowing that none of my friends had the same interest in trying something new. The minute I got to high school, I knew I was going to find myself a new hobby. My freshman year began during a school closure. In person instruction was sporadic and sports provided me a way to connect to my new school. One morning, “Tiger TV” caught my attention. It is my school's morning announcements, essentially a daily news report. This was when my interest in my chosen field was sparked, a field which would allow me to merge my interest in sports and in broadcasting. I have chosen to major in sports media and communication, a field which I feel would teach me skills I can use to serve my community while pursuing my interests. In ten years, I hope to be working in the field of sports media, a dream that began during my high school years.
Throughout my life, I have been involved with many different activities but I have always been a member of an athletic team. I took a broadcasting class as an elective my sophomore year. The Broadcasting class is responsible for recording the daily “Tiger TV” episodes which gained my attention that first year of high school. The class taught me how to read off teleprompters, how to edit and film videos and the basics of working a camera. During my junior year, I continued with “Broadcasting 2.” I anchored sports and joined the broadcasting club. During my senior year, I developed new skills such as how to work light and sound boards. I further developed my ability to write scripts. I had regular anchoring opportunities and greatly improved my ability to read off of a teleprompter. I also greatly advanced in my ability to properly speak on camera. Towards the end of my high school career, I developed an interest in photography. I began taking photos for my school’s teams, attending games, matches or meets as often as possible, initially as part of the yearbook committee. The players responded with many compliments on my pictures and often used the pictures I took on their social media pages.
I am currently pursuing a degree in Sports Media and Communication at Rowan University. After college graduation, I hope to obtain a job which allows me to use my skills and strengths to serve the company for which I work. The skills I am developing will also allow me to have an impact in the community. Through my courses, I will improve my ability to communicate important information, perhaps through a local newspaper or other outlet in the future. As I have been in the past, I hope to be involved in community events such as sports, or town wide celebrations, by taking photographs and sharing them with others.
My life has always involved sports. My favorite courses have involved broadcasting. While in pursuit of a degree in the field of sports media and communication, I will develop skills and abilities to assist with my professional development. In doing so, I hope to be able to merge my passions into a career.