𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙐𝙥: 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙀𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙞𝙫𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙮. 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲!

Ayana Lawson didn’t dream of working in professional sports.

Helping Oklahoma City Thunder players be successful on-and-off the court.

In fact, growing up in Alabama, she didn’t even know people like her could have a job in the industry.

There were no pro teams nearby.

Just the coaches and players she saw on TV.

“I was naive to think that was it.”

But when she landed an internship with the Memphis Grizzlies, something clicked.

She wasn’t just an intern.

She was working under Jerry West.

The logo himself.

A kid from Prattville learning from one of the greatest.

How did that happen?

It opened her eyes to a world of careers she never knew existed.

Before that, she worked at a children’s museum.

Babysitting.

That internship didn’t feel like part of some grand career plan.

It was just a shot she took.

And she’s grateful for every lesson she learned.

That’s something she always tells young people:

“It’s okay not to know.”

You’re not supposed to have everything figured out at 17 or 18.

Some people are 40, 50, even 60 and still don’t know what they want to be.

And that’s fine!”

So take chances.

Ask questions.

Dabble in new fields.

Internships, like the one Ayana did, can open doors to industries you never considered.

In the end, you might discover that your skills are transferable.

And there’s a place for you in sports, entertainment, or any field you choose.

But the only way you’ll know?

Try.

***

Want to make a positive impact on an undergrad or recent grad’s life?

Help them grow by sharing Ayana’s story with them today.

It’ll give you a greater sense of purpose.

And get them one step closer to fulfilling their dream.

Thank you Ayana for sharing your belief in students with us for this series.

It’s a gift to hear how you found your way into the sports industry and learn from your experience!

Follow Ayana on: Linkedin