Sean Mitchell

When a UMass recruiter visited my high school I learned about the Sport Management program. I instantly knew where I wanted to go. Through my 2+ years in the program, I've had an internship working the home football games for UMass at Gillette Stadium, and a summer job working with the Pawtucket Red Sox, where I hope to return next summer for an internship.

I've always loved sports. When I wasn't playing organized sports as a kid, I spent my time searching for hidden spots around my town to explore. Sometimes this lead to fruitless adventures where I'd return home empty-handed, but sometimes it would lead me to an abandoned quarry where I could jump off the 20-30 foot rocks into a pond. Unfortunately for me, organized sports apparently did not love me as much as I loved them. I was always that kid on the Little League Baseball team that struck out on a 3 straight pitches in just about every at bat. But still, I loved the game and I played baseball from 1st grade until my freshman year of high school when a broken collarbone finally forced me out. After I stopped playing actual sports, I had to channel my passion in another way.

That was when I found out about Fantasy Sports. Perfect for the stat junkies like me who couldn't get enough of watching and analyzing every game. It wasn't long until I went from having one fantasy baseball team, to having 4 (which finished 1st, 1st, 2nd, and 4th in their respective leagues last year, if you'll allow me time to brag a bit) as well as 4 fantasy football teams this season. It quickly developed into quite a passion of mine. I wondered how I could turn fantasy sports, admittedly a hobby that wouldn't likely lend itself to any sort of real job, into a career. Then I realized, it didn't need to. I was already learning a great deal of skills that would be applicable to any career from fantasy sports.

I learned critical thinking from my decisions on which players to start. I learned the value of preparation in the months I spent learning all I could leading up to the draft. I learned communication and interpersonal skills while trying to making trades, as well as how to make a good negotiation tip in your favor. I learned about leadership and commitment when I became the Commisioner of the league I manage with my friends, Prepare Your Smack Talk (although, I should have prepared some different type of smack talk, I'm currently in 7th place). Inspiration can come from unlikely places.