My job interview 19 years ago for ARC Membership Services Representative still lives vividly in my mind. Scottie Lee, former ARC Membership Services Supervisor, sat on the other side of a table and asked during a group interview, “If you could be any food, what would we be, and why?” My response not only landed me the job but also paved the way for my fulfilling career.
The first time I stepped foot on campus at SDSU, I remember being so impressed by the ARC. At that time, I had played sports in high school, but working out wasn’t part of my daily routine. The idea of having the tools and space to make fitness a part of my everyday life while in college was a huge reason why I chose to attend SDSU.
I started attending SDSU in the fall of 2004. One night in Tenochca Hall, I remember hearing two dormmates arrive home late at night raving about how they worked as Ticket Takers/Ushers at Cox Arena (now Viejas Arena). They got paid to attend concerts and I thought, Wow, I definitely need to apply when the position opens up. Sure enough, in the fall of my sophomore year, I applied and landed the job. While the work was fun, it was sporadic, and I needed a steadier income to afford college, which led me to become a Membership Services Representative at the ARC two months later. Throughout my remaining three years at SDSU, I worked my way up to part-time supervisor positions at both the ARC and the Arena.
The experience I gained as a student supervisor led me to be selected as a temporary Events Supervisor as soon as I graduated. One of the Events Supervisors at the time went on maternity leave, so I got to spend a few months alongside Ryan DeLong working late-night concerts, sold-out basketball games and so much more. Some of the most memorable concerts I worked at the Arena included performances by Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Rod Stewart, Foo Fighters and a completely sold-out The Fray show at Open Air Theatre, where it was pouring down rain without a single attendee leaving.
In the fall of 2008, when my temporary position was about to end, I heard that Mission Bay Aquatic Center was hiring an Office Supervisor, and all of my supervisors at the time (Miss Vicki, Tim Ripke and Aaron Woods) encouraged me to apply. I loved the idea of continuing to work for Associated Students, but I didn’t know much about watersports. I had visited the aquatic center one time before as a student to rent a kayak, but that was about it. Kevin Waldick took a risk and hired me – someone who knew little about watersports and nothing about MBAC. I had no idea that working at MBAC would change my life in some of the best ways.
After being hired at MBAC, I spent weekends learning all of the watersports, and absolutely fell in love with surfing and wakeboarding, spending many years trying to master both. One particular wakeboarding instructor, Scott Grant, started spending time around the office and invited me wakeboarding with him. We spent many evenings after work wakeboarding, which led to getting married and then having two kids who now attend the Children’s Center.
During that interview at the ARC, I never would have envisioned this amazing life that I now have stemmed from my jobs at Associated Students. Every decision that was made, either by me applying to certain jobs, or my supervisors believing in me and hiring me, is what led me to this place in life of now being the Assistant Director at Mission Bay Aquatic Center all while having a beautiful family who I now get to share watersports experiences with. So, back to my answer to the question, “If you could be any food, what would we be, and why?” My response was, “Jello. Because I can easily mold into new situations and am flexible.” I think that still holds true to this day and has been a huge part of how I got where I am today.
