Coming into the Master of Arts in Education (MEAD) master’s program at Michigan State University (MSU), the Sport Coaching and Leadership concentration was right up my alley. There is a lack of females coaches in the world of distance running, and that alone motivated me to apply to the MEAD program. Earning a master’s degree in education is exciting, but being able to cater it directly to my passions and interests has been a win-win! The MEAD program offers a lot of creativity and individuality when it comes to building a course schedule and timeline. I was able to select classes that stood out to me, which made learning the content much more enjoyable. Coaching is a form of education and being able to learn how to teach AND to coach has been very fulfilling. 

 

I had several goals in mind at the beginning of my educational journey at MSU: build my coaching skills, learn how to coach different age groups, and strengthen my understanding of physical and mental health in athletes. And I can proudly say I accomplished all of these goals. A large portion of my program was kinesiology-based, and after completing an exercise science Bachelor of Science, I was able to build on top of the foundation I had previously built during my undergraduate studies. Some areas of focus within the Sport Coaching and Leadership concentration included athlete burnout, mental health, managing stress, building skills, and effective communication. The classes that I took not only provided me with clear examples and solid research but I was also able to directly apply the content to my personal coaching setting. Learning from experience is one of the best ways to solidify knowledge, and throughout my coursework, I was able to hands-on apply my testing. 

 

Now that I am days away from graduation, I have a new goal to look forward to: land a coaching position! Upon completion of the MEAD program, I am feeling extremely confident and prepared to apply for coaching positions across the country. Partaking in the Sport Coaching and Leadership concentration at Michigan State University has equipped me with the skills and knowledge necessary to coach young male and female athletes to be successful in their sport, and in life. One of my favorite quotes is “never get so busy making a living that you forget to live your life”. The beauty of coaching is every day will be unique. Some days will bring challenges, some days will have repetition, and others will be extremely gratifying. I will use the foundation I build at Michigan State University to kickstart my educational career, coaching young athletes and being the best role model I can be.