Here's One Reason You Should Always Pay Attention in Class with Ambassador Jackson
During the end of the COVID year (my sophomore year), I realized that I had very little internship experience and I was about to be an upperclassman. Being the youngest child, I knew I had to change something because I had the privilege of observing and learning from my siblings who also went to USC. I knew I wanted a job in sports so I applied to just about every internship I could find. To my surprise, the Los Angeles Chargers answered back! After working my first day on the job, it was clear to me that it was not what I expected. My job initially was to stand outside one of the gates for three hours before and during the game to assist fans as they entered the stadium. It was a rough commute from LA to Inglewood without a car and I was just about ready to give up. That was until I gave my mom a call and she motivated me by saying this is how all jobs in sports start out. I trusted her and have now been with the Chargers for two seasons! My biggest piece of advice I could give someone is to always make the most out of their situation because you never know who you will meet or how your current situation can open doors for you in the future.
It was just an ordinary Wednesday night when I was sitting in JOUR 380 with Jeff Fellenzer. Being as connected with the sports media world as he is, he advertised an internship that one of his connections was looking to find a good hire for. I applied and did not think much of it until I was contacted for an interview the next day! During my interview the first thing they asked me about was my Chargers experience. It had finally connected! Having gameday experience with such a large organization and experience dealing with professionals in the sports world helped set me apart from the other candidates. This position was for a game day operations intern with USC Sports Properties. My tasks involved taking photos of sponsorship activations for proof of performance, checking in clients to their respective tailgates, hosting the Playfly company suite and ensuring all food/drink refills were done in a timely manner, making sure everything was cleaned up properly after the game, and wrapping up any loose ends that my managers wanted me to take care of. It was such an incredible experience being able to be a part of something that I had watched and been a fan of since I was a kid. The great thing about working in sports is that you understand how important everyone’s role is to the bigger picture. If one person is lacking, the whole operation slows down.
I made memories on the job that I will remember for the rest of my life. Additionally, Playfly provided me with some opportunities that I will never forget off the clock! They provided me with tickets to the Rose Bowl to watch USC play UCLA on the road. They also gave me tickets to the Pac-12 Championship game against Utah. Driving to and from Las Vegas in a rental car to see that game will probably be my favorite memory I take away from USC.
In summary, remember to always give things a chance! No matter where you start, it is often going to involve some grunt work before you slowly make your way up the chain. Don’t forget to pause and take it in along the way.
