I aspire to become a sports play-by-play announcer or color analyst. A passion for sports and love of public speaking have started me on my way to this career goal. I have my college path clearly planned and have started building my resume.

While in junior high, I attended Play-By-Play Sports Broadcasting summer camps where I met broadcast professionals and had my first experiences in front of and behind the camera at a university tv studio. I loved it!

At high school freshman orientation, I approached the Athletic Director about the possibility of my announcing high school sports. The A.D. said he had never had a student announcer but would give me a chance. By the end of my freshman year, I had a full season of announcing boys’ jv; girls’ jv & girls’ varsity basketball under my belt.

Now, I am a senior at that same high school and am well known by coaches, athletes and fans. Since that day when I asked for a chance, I have announced nine high school sports. Many of those sports had never had an announcer before. Most of the “important” varsity sports have (paid) adult announcers. I have become such a versatile announcer that I can fill in when needed for the popular varsity sports and also do announcing for many other sports. When I talked with prospective college broadcast programs, they were amazed at the announcing resume I’ve already built.

This year, I’ve had to turn down requests from coaches to announce their sports because I’ve taken the next step in my path to that broadcasting career. Last summer, I needed to get a job. While my friends were applying for jobs at restaurants and retailers, I was writing cover letters and sending resumes to radio stations. I wanted a job in my chosen field.

I had an interview with the general manager of one radio conglomerate. That interview for an unpaid internship seemed to go well, but he never called me back. That turned out to be a good thing! I went on to interview with the general manager of STARadio and got a paid position as a part-time producer for a CBS-affiliate, all-sports radio station! So here I am, a senior in high school, working a job that would be a great internship for a college senior! No, “radio producer” is not my career goal, but it’s a start. At my part-time job, I am learning and doing some of the things that will be taught in my college courses.

I have been accepted at Western Illinois University, where I will work toward the Integrated Baccalaureate Degree in Sports Broadcasting and Master of Science in Sport Management. I also intend to minor in coaching. Sports broadcaster is my career goal but I am a realist and have built a back-up plan into my college education.