Do You Ever Think About How You Got Here?
Do you ever reflect on your life and the path you took to get where you are currently? Sometimes, the input from those along the way you've traversed can boost productivity.
This photo captures a moment of reconnecting with someone instrumental in my getting to this point, a key element in the trail toward me doing what I do and being the person I am.
Although he's now with University of Pittsburgh men’s soccer, when I was a student at Wake Forest University, Jay Vidovich was the head coach of the Wake Forest University men’s soccer program. I wanted to build upon my love of sports and my experience around soccer teams to make an impact, learning skills and making necessary contacts. Thus, I swung by Jay's office to ask for a job, which (thanks to then-assistant coach John Hackworth) would grow tremendously.
It was a winning combination: (1) Jay was in the office at that moment, (2) Jay was okay with me simply showing up and (3) Jay gave me a chance. That combo should've been a dead giveaway I was headed in the "right" direction.
As team manager, I secured guest coaches from university faculty, facilitated outreach to youth soccer leagues so we could book teams as ball kids, built out the ball kids' program to include clinics and scheduled local youth as Deac of the Day for each home game. It was truly gratifying.
My experience there got the attention of our Director of Athletic Operations, who brought me in to assist with the Olympic sports and men's basketball. Then, after proving myself in that role, he connected me with folks in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill athletics department for my job that combined operations with administration. My work in Chapel Hill led me to fall in love with the Triangle such that, when I realized I loved sports too much to work in sports, I reached out to our Triangle area automotive dealerships next.
Recently, Jay concurred with how I think about things differently, emphasizing that this is likely not a bad thing at all. It might actually be what got me here, nudging me into action.
When you reflect on your path in life, what stands out to you?
Emily Parks with current Pitt head men’s soccer coach and former Wake Forest University head men’s soccer coach, Jay Vidovich
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