much more. I learned that working as a photographer in sports isn't just shooting the game; there is so much going on behind the scenes! With so many moving parts, I learned that learning quickly, problem solving, being ready for anything, and having urgency when working were some of the most valuable traits to help you succeed. Working in sports also taught me how important it is to be a team player. It takes everyone working together for a gameday to be successful; sometimes that means being patient with a new intern and teaching them how to do things properly. It might mean having a smile on your face and keeping the good vibes on a hectic day: other times you may be taping names on the floor, running to the office to grab random batteries, bringing coffee, food, Dr. Pepper, maybe dragging mats that are bigger than you or sprinting around a football field to switch cards but in the grand scheme of things every job is important for everything to run smoothly and a lot of the time its the seemingly "silly" jobs that make a big difference.  At the end of the day, it might be the most hectic games that give you your favorite memories, the slowest games that might bring you closer to your coworkers, or the bad moments that make for funny stories you'll tell people for years. These experiences are priceless and opportunities endless, but the things I cherish most have been the relationships I've made along the way!  From traveling with teams, working SEC tournaments, meeting my best friends, cartwheels in the lockerroom, heel clicks on every walk, dr pepper runs, photo reviews, silly gifts, crazy stories,  rainy game days, waffle house runs and everything in between, I can confidently say working in sports will bring you your best friends, favorite memories, and the most unexpected joy... if you let it.

It isn't always easy but you can always make it fun! Sometimes you just have to take a step back and take it all in, reminding yourself that you're standing on the court or in the stadium or on the field that little you dreamed about. Or maybe it's reminding yourself of all the little kids waiting in line just hoping to meet the player or coach that you get to interact with on a weekly basis. And most days it's finding the joy in stupid things that happen throughout the day and laughing about it with your coworkers. However, no matter what your job is on gameday, there will always be something that makes you smile and because of that working in sports is a privilege! 

It has been such an honor getting to capture historic moments, new Auburn recruits, and memories for Auburn’s student athletes and coaches over the past few years and I cannot wait to continue!