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

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!