Alumni from the NFL and tech professionals from Microsoft are collaborating to help students understand that a non-athletic career in sports is possible. While one can have athletic prowess when working a career in the sports industry, another option is a career centered in technology.
Changing the Face of Athletics
Students that once had an interest in athletics often give up on their sports goals once high school ends. However, these students can still harness this interest to launch a career in athletics. Pro Experience Day was started by NFL Alumni and Microsoft tech experts to encourage students to think about a career in sports outside of the typical athletic role.
This collaboration on Pro Experience Day shows students how to enter the working world of sports by working with technology. Mike Tice, former Head Coach of the Minnesota Vikings taps into the mental skills required on and off the field when working with athletes and students interested in careers in the sports industry, Similarly, Chun Lu, a senior program manager at Microsoft, introduces students to the world of technology.
By showing students how to navigate the world of sports using new types of tech, Pro Experience Day shows students the many options they have when choosing a career. Moreover, these tech and athletic professionals use innovative ideas to reach students on their own level. For example, the team from Pro Athletic Day uses video gaming to win students over. What starts with an interest in video games can lead to a rewarding career with tech and athletics.
Expanding to STEM
Just as Pro Experience Day uses the athletics-tech combo to show would-be athletes the wonder of technology and those interested in tech the possibilities of working in the sports industry, it also encourages students to look into STEM education. Many students that wouldn’t typically show an interest in the sciences or maths fall in love with tech and go on to make a career out of this passion.
While Pro Experience Day started as a way to join technology and athletics, it has the power to open new doors for students in their personal and professional lives. Whether they find an interest in athletics, technology or any other STEM field, students that are exposed to these innovative ideas will have the most success in their career choices.