The Wyoming Athletics Center hosted a Career Networking Panel Discussion earlier last week to discuss what student athletes do after they leave UW. In a room full of junior and senior student athletes, six former UW student athletes spoke about their experiences after their playing days ended.
First to speak was cross country and track runner Brian Harnish. He attended the University from 2002 to 2006 as a psychology major. After graduation, he found his passion in the field of research and science. After making the decision that he wanted to do something different, Harnish pursued his new career goal and landed a job working as a Research Scientist at UW.
“Once you’re done being an athlete, use that asset as a skill in your career path,” Harnish said. “Being an athlete gives you a motivation unlike any other. Just remember that once you graduate you continue to work just as hard as when you were an athlete.”
Following Harnish was Erin Sailors, a former UW volleyball player. After graduation she found her place working for Principal Financial Group.
“Make the most of your time while you’re in college,” Sailors said. “But don’t forget that you do hold an honorable title and it will follow you. Keep your future in mind and everything else will fall into place.”
Dave Clements, a UW football alumnus, told students that after he graduated he tried out for the Denver Broncos but did not make the cut. Out of job, he went through a number of sales jobs. Eventually, he ended up working for One West Real Estate where he happily remains.
“When I was younger I was constantly caught making decisions that didn’t really benefit my future,” Clements said. “After realizing that I couldn’t live that way if I wanted to be successful, I changed my thinking. To this day I live my life by reminding myself of this simple phrase: when in doubt, do the right thing.”
While Clements found himself out of a football career after college, former football player Galand Thaxton did manage to play in the pros for the San Diego Chargers for four years after his graduation. Once his time was up however, Thaxton used his business knowledge and ended up owning his own State Farm Insurance office in Laramie.
“There will come a point in your life where you are stuck at a crossroads,” Thaxton explained. “But you will know what to do because it’s what you’re meant to do. Being an athlete doesn’t define who you will be long after college is over but it will however help you become the best you can be.”
Angie King, a UW swimmer from 2004 to 2008, said her time as student athlete was one of the most liberating experiences of her life. Even though she held the title as a collegiate swimmer on campus, she realized she could invest in herself and become anything. King now works at the UW Admissions Office, where she said she could not be happier.
“My best advice would be to not pigeonhole yourself just because your life seems set in place now,” King stated. “I had no idea that my career path would lead me to where I am now but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
The last speaker was Kati Hime, a former UW Spirit Squad member. While attending the university, Hime studied health sciences and is now a sonographer at Laramie’s Ivinson Hospital. Hime said she always wanted to do something with writing but did not think she could make a career with it. But as fate would have it, Hime was asked to be in charge of “Lifestyle Magazine,” a quarterly Wyoming publication.
“My life has been blessed with the opportunities that I’ve had come my way,” Hime said. “I did the responsible thing by going into the health field but was lucky enough to have the position with the magazine which is something I’m absolutely passionate about. If it’s any advice I can offer to any student athlete or just any student in general, it would be to use your resumes as a 30 second commercial. Be concise and make sure to mention your time as an athlete and how it has shaped and molded you into the person you are today. As an employer that’s what I value most in my employees, hard work and dedication which as athletes is the strongest quality you possess.”
