Hello! My name is Riley Ersek. College is a time of reflection and self-discovery. As an 18-year-old declaring a major was the most stressful thing ever. Asking friends and family for help, it always came back to the same question. “Well, what do you want to do in life?” Yes, that dreaded question that gets asked 100 times at Thanksgiving. In middle school the answer was always the typical doctor, lawyer, and of course professional soccer star. Even in high school my knowledge of careers was few and far between. Soon enough I blinked my eyes and it was time to apply to colleges. I will never forget filling out all of my applications and always skipping the same question. “What is your major?” Luckily for me there was an undecided option. Throughout my first two years of college I changed my major 3 times. First Chemistry to Health Studies and then Health Studies to Elementary Education. I thought for sure I was meant to be a teacher. Yet of course after taking some education course it still did not feel right. I was discouraged. Was college even for me? Finally, in the Fall of 2018, I happened upon a job called street team in the marketing department for the Anaheim Ducks. Yeah, the hockey team. This was huge! My whole life sports were my passion. If I didn’t play them, I watched them. Getting this job allowed me to find my true passion and that is a career in sports. I was then able to declare my major, Communications, and pursue a degree. Now as I head towards the end of college my focus shifts to finding a job with a professional sports team as a public relations specialist.
The past two years with the Anaheim Ducks taught me so much about the sports industry that I did not know before. From event planning and working the event to game day activities that include setup and even breakdown, I know that wherever I land in the future I will be prepared. Even more so, I have learned how to adapt to even the most unlikely circumstances, like COVID-19. I am grateful to every step and obstacle that has come my way thus far and know I am a better person because of it. With confidence and drive, I will pursue my dream and give 110%. The future is bright and so am I.
