Working Together as a Team

Name: Kelsey Kinzer
College/University: Eastern Oregon University
Year in school:  Senior
Major: Business Administration- Double concentration- Marketing and International Business
Sport: Track and Field Sprinter

1. What is one thing you didn't know as a freshman coming into college that you wish someone would have told you?
I wish someone would have told me as a freshman that I should have bought a planner right away and kept myself, my practice schedule, and my school schedule organized.

2. What do you like most about competing in college sports?
I love the rush that I get right before the gun goes off. I live to put my fingers on the line and load myself into the blocks knowing I have to leave everything on the track or go home empty handed.

3. What do you like in your teammates?
I love how supportive my teammates are on and off the track. Day in and day out whether I'm having a tough day at practice or a rough day from classes my teammates will do almost anything to cheer me up or help me out.

4. What do you like most about your college team?
The thing I love most about my college team is that every day is different at practice and I love going to practice because of my teammates. They make me laugh and smile every day and are irreplaceable people.

5. Do you have a mentor? If so, who and what is the best piece of advice he/she has ever given you?
I would have to say that both of my parents and my grandparents are all my mentors because all have made me who I am. The best advice that my family has given me is to always be honest, caring, forgiving, and love whatever I choose to do in life.

6. What is a unique strength you bring to your team?
I think a unique strength I bring to my team is that I will work hard at practice to not only better myself but better my teammates as well.

7. What is one thing you do in practice that helps you reach your goals?
Although it is hard some days I try to remain positive in practice because I know that the minute I start thinking negative it will only make my work out that much more difficult.

8. How do you get focused/pumped up before a big game/meet?
I have a playlist on my iPod that I listen to before every race and I mainly just try to stay calm because I hate getting too nervous before I race. Getting nervous makes it hard for me to focus on what I need to do during the race.

9. What are your plans after graduation? Do you feel that being a student-athlete has helped guide you in that direction?
I plan on starting my career in athletic/sports marketing and hopefully that will be at the college level. Yes I do feel like being a student-athlete has helped me achieve much more in my life than if I had just attended college alone. I have learned the true value of hard work and reward as well as when to step up and be a leader and when to take a backseat and be a team player.

10. What has been the greatest moment in your college sports career?
The greatest moment in my college sports career was at our conference meet my sophomore year. My entire track season had been disappointing as far as times went and other things in my life were also not going very well. I took some time off and then came back to practice, worked hard, and then went to the conference meet ready to compete. I ran the fastest 200 meter of my life and it felt great!  That moment completely picked up my whole attitude about track and life.

11. Talk a little about your character. What skill sets have you learned by competing in college sports?
I have definitely learned a lot from not only running track but just competing in college in general. I learned how important responsibility is and how to take responsibility for myself and my actions. I know how important working as a team is and how much that will benefit me in my workplace. I have also gained a new respect for people who work hard for what they want and have in life rather than having things handed to them. I have worked at least two jobs throughout my entire college career and it feels good to be able to appreciate the help my family has given me and to know I worked hard myself as well. 

12. How will that help you later in your future career or in a leadership role?
I am proud of the person I have become and know that working as part of a team is one of the most important aspects of any job. I have also gained a great respect for being able to listen and learn from other people's ideas rather than being focused on what I think is right. There is always something new to learn in every situation and keeping an open mind and staying positive will help me achieve so much more in life.