Q & A: Sage's Tyler Schnaible Discussed His Time Attending the NCAA Career in Sports Forum
Recently, Sage's Tyler Schnaible was one of several Empire 8 Conference student-athletes chosen to attend the NCAA Career in Sports Forum ealier this month at the NCAA National Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. The program brings together over 200 student-athletes to learn about the sports industry and explore potential career paths and opportunities.
By exposing attendees to a wide assortment of speakers and professionals within athletics, these individuals walk away from the program with a greater understanding of best practices for breaking into the sports industry, a self-awareness of their workplace behavioral style, and strategies to thrive using this profile, and a renewed outlook on desired positions and organizations. Additionally, the forum provides extensive opportunities for student-athletes to build connections both within and outside intercollegiate athletics through networking sessions, panel and speaker engagement, and interactions among the participants.
A member of the golf and tennis teams at Sage, Tyler just completed his junior year at Sage. He was good enough to recap his trip to Indianapolis for the E8:
How did you get to Indianapolis?
My journey began at Albany International Airport, I had a flight to Chicago, then Chicago to Indianapolis. When I got to Indianapolis, the NCAA provided shuttles from the airport to the hotel. Yes, I’m tall and hit my head in the airplane several times.
Where’d you stay?
The NCAA placed us in one of two hotels, they were located across the street from the national office, roughly a five-minute walk. They also randomly assign you a roommate, mine was a D1 football player from Missouri. Yes, I felt scrawny. I like how the NCAA assigns you with someone completely random. There’s always this suspense as to who your roommate will be, but when you meet them you become friends and you get to follow their success post-conference which is really cool.
Who were the speakers?
Clyde Doughty Jr, Nan Carney-DeBord, Chad Markuson, Derrick Crawford, Stan Wilcox, Diane Dickman, Ryan Jones, Dan Dutcher, Danielle Harris, Jackie Paquette, Jessie Benner, Patrick Malin, Kevin Kim, Monica Miller, Barb Hallam, Jennifer Myhre, Asaundra Pickett, Craig Malveaux, Sarah Overpeck, Michael Bazemore, Jawauna Harding, Stevie-Baker Watson, Matt Goff, Suzette McQueen, Sharon Clark, Shea Davisson, Jason Warthan, Matt Moore, Dr Lloyd Chew Jr, Chris Carr, Will Baggett, Jason Burton, and Curtis Hill.
*Bios of all these outstanding people can all be found with a simple google search*
Who was your favorite speaker? Why?
I would have to say my favorite speaker was Curtis Hill. This was my second time listening to him, first time being at the NCAA Student Athlete Leadership Forum in 2017. His life story is very inspiring and the fact that he can deliver his speech with high energy and humor is admirable. He made the transition from being a drug dealer in a low-income city to turning his life around and now being a motivational speaker. There is so much to be learned from Mr. Hill and I encourage anyone to listen to him if they get the chance.
What was your biggest take away from the forum?
Out of all the valuable information we were given over the weekend, the biggest thing I took away was you must create your own path. No two people will have the same path, but it is important to find your WHY and that will drive you in your journey. As a soon-to-be senior, I often stress that I don’t have everything figured out, and I’m sure there are many other students that can relate. Every speaker showed us or discussed their path on how they got to where they currently are. Some of the speakers held eight different positions before finally settling into their current role, but it is all about finding the right fit. It is important to not stress because everything will work out, the key is to do your best in whatever position you are currently in because that will open opportunities. Live in the now.
Favorite Quotes from my trip?
- “If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re probably on the menu”
- “When your reputation proceeds you, opportunities will open up”
- “Sight is a function of the eyes, vision is a function of the heart, perspective is a function of the mentality”
- “Everyone smiles in the same language”
- “People hire people, not resumes”
- “Don’t follow someone else’s dream, make it your own”
- “How do you speak without speaking?”
Favorite Part of the Experience?
Well this is super bittersweet, but my favorite part is making brand new friends and learning all about them. Going into these conferences, you really just throw yourself out there and get out of your comfort zone because time flies by, so you need to take advantage of the opportunity. I’ve met some of the greatest people on Earth at this convention and it is tough because I got so close with them over the course of the four days, and then you have to leave them and hope to cross paths with them in the future. I had the same scenario when leaving a NCAA conference in 2017. It is upsetting to leave, and I tried to prepare for it for this conference, but it is so tough. So, with that being said, I need to say thank you to all the people who were a part of my experience, I am forever grateful for each and every one of you! I can honestly say I will put forth the effort to reconnect with them at some point down the road. (Shout out Kansas St. and VCU!)
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com and
https://youtu.be/wzL4HcDoUUQ