I remember to this day, my history teacher Mr. Woods during my junior year telling my parents and me at a parent-teacher conference, “Chris is doing well in class, but he is always talking about sports; for my class he needs to re-focus, but he better set out for a career in sports.” My parents agreed and pushed me towards this path, but being a defiant eighteen year old; I started my college career as a motion picture major. After walking-on as a University of Miami football player, I switched to a sports management major because I finally realized what Mr. Woods and my parents were trying to help me understand. I felt more comfortable in the sports world than in Hollywood. After starting my studies in sports, I have fully embraced being a sports "nerd," but not in the sense of tracking statistics. When I attend a sporting event, I find myself observing the entire operation. From seating alignment, sponsorship placements, positioning of vendors, presentation, how the uniforms look, when ushers are released, traffic flow, and many other factors. While I love the outcome of a game, match, or race, I am there for the full experience.One of my favorite moments was coaching 6th grade basketball. I wanted to do something special for the players because of the hard work they consistently brought everyday. During one assembly, I encouraged the entire school to come watch the final game. I did this through enlisting volunteer help from a group of seniors, marketing the game similar to David Letterman’s top ten lists, and the use of Chick-fil-A giveaways. Guess what; It worked. The students packed the gym and it made my year looking at the massive smiles across each kid’s face during the pregame huddle, knowing how much this meant to them.To me, the presentation and care of an event mean just as much at the youth level, as it does at the professional. My goal for my career is to be at the top of the athletic industry leading a department to be its best self.