Alabama Athletics' Student-Athlete Enhancement Hosts Major Exploration Fair
3/4/2020 5:44:00 PM | General
More than 100 Crimson Tide freshmen and sophomores took part in the event that was held in Coleman Coliseum
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Some student-athletes arrive at The University of Alabama with their lives all planned out, including their major at the Capstone and career after graduation. Some come to campus with no idea about what's next while most student-athletes fall somewhere in between.
The Crimson Tide's DRIVE for Success Career and Leadership Development initiative hosted the Major Exploration Fair to provide information and guidance for everyone along that spectrum.
The fair provides Tide student-athletes the opportunity to meet academic advisors from more than 30 majors and minors on campus. The advisors provide information designed to help choose the right academic program to fit the student-athlete's interests.
"It's a struggle trying to figure out what you want to do and then carry the workload that you have as a student-athlete," track and field/cross country freshman Jalen Murray said. "But everybody is really there for you in the academic center, helping guide you on your path and what you need to do."
Murray is planning on majoring in kinesiology, but through events like the Major Exploration Fair, he's learned more about possible concentrations within that major and where his degree might lead him after graduation.
"Dr. (Colleen) Geary is here tonight with kinesiology and exercise science," Murray said. "I wanted to be a PT when I arrived here, and she's helped me explore my options. She wrote this plan of what classes I would need to take and how different degrees go to different jobs."
For those that are figuring out what they want to do and how to get there, the fair provides the opportunity to learn more about where they might to go with their studies and what advice is available about their chosen path.
"I was here last year too, and I had no idea what I wanted to do, and I was at every single table just grabbing information," UA sophomore gymnast Emily Gaskins said. "Coming back this year, I know more what I do want to do with my life, so I'm really focusing on news and sports media and the reporting aspect of that career. I was able to find that table and talk to them, trying to figure out what some of my next steps could be and what they went through, what they graduated with, and just make more connections and really networking."
The ability to come together and have so much information about so many avenues in one place at one time is a big benefit for UA student-athletes.
"It's not typical for us to have all this time to go do internships or shadow people," Gaskins said. "Our schedules are hectic and crazy, so events like tonight really help us balance our time a little bit better when it comes to figuring out what else we want to do."
The fair is just part of an overall framework that the University and Alabama Athletics has put in place to help UA student-athletes find their way, in their studies and in life after graduation.
"It means so much to me," Gaskins said. "I mean that's The University of Alabama. It's a family and a community and everyone truly wants to help you grow in your life, in your career, in your sport … everything. Our staff and the faculty who put all this together for us, we are definitely so appreciative of all of them. They care so much for us and we see it, we feel it and that love, and that family is what makes Alabama what it is. It's why we are so successful in athletics and why we're successful outside of the gym as well. A program like tonight is just one little glimpse of why."
The Major Exploration Fair is another part of Alabama Athletics' DRIVE for Success Career and Leadership Development's ongoing efforts to provide a strong foundation for the Crimson Tide's student-athletes. Highlighted through the DRIVE acronym the program's values are Dedication, Responsibility, Influence, Vision, and Excellence. Now in its fifth year, DRIVE for Success' mission is to actively support professional and leadership growth of current and former Crimson Tide student-athletes through practical educational workshops, professional events, leadership programs and various opportunities for growth.
All the latest information on Alabama Athletics can be found via @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook. You can follow Alabama's DRIVE for Success program on Twitter and Instagram via @TIDE_Enhance.
