Abbey Robinson

KHS 6410
Professional Philosophy

Lumpkin and Cuneen (2001) defined philosophy as the pursuit of truth. The truth is, my
undergraduate education resulted in a diploma with two majors and distinction, but was not
driven by a specific occupational goal. After graduating, I worked as a project and account
manager for almost eight years while devoting my free time to contact sports as a volunteer team
manager and community events coordinator. In searching for new employment, I was told to find
where my passion, mission, and purpose meet. I was encouraged to define what I was looking for
so I could find it. I was asked what I would do for free. I recognized that what Id qualified
myself for professionally was not what I wanted to continue to do, and that my career path
should include the athletic activities Id been devoted to all along.
The Lumpkin and Cuneen essay goes on to say that ones personal philosophy usually
changes over time as it is shaped through experiences. Experiences Ive had up to now have
influenced my current values and priorities. Sports are important enough to me to pursue
professionally because Ive experienced how they can influence personal growth, increase
healthy exercise, and bring people together on an individual and international level.
Two of my top values are service and task focus. Having started as a clerk, caterer, and
cashier before interacting with clients at an account management level, Ive developed what Id
call a habitual service mentality based on past employment experiences. To me, service includes
attention to internal and/or external customers, responsibility, and representation. I think task
focus similarly includes organization, productivity, and quality. These values come from my
personality more than practice. I am detail- and process-oriented. I naturally break down

problems or projects into smaller ones, and make to-do lists from there to accomplish the larger
objectives. I am a so-called perfectionist driven by work ethic.
In order to be able to successfully serve others and complete tasks, values like teamwork,
learning, and integrity are also priorities of mine. I list communication and coordination as two
of my top skills, and these were developed through cooperation with others working on common
goals together. In turn, I find that having knowledge and information helps me collaborate more
effectively with other people. I ask questions frequently in order to learn what is needed, make
decisions about what to do, and fully understand the root cause of issues. Meanwhile, I expect
myself and others to act with integrity, which for me means fairness, respect, and honesty.
More specifically in sports, inclusion and globalization are significant to me. It would be
ideal if everyone could have equal opportunity to participate in sports. Having worked at
international lacrosse tournaments every two years for almost a decade, Ive seen first-hand how
the love of a game can bring people together despite apparent differences. In and outside of their
own countries, people need to be able to cope with multicultural experiences and interactions
with others regardless of identity or upbringing. Sports facilitates these by being a common
ground.
Im studying Sports Administration so Ill become more qualified to transition the
communication, service, and coordination skills I have developed in past positions into a future
in an athletic industry. Besides ultimately pursuing the degree to its completion, my goals for this
program include learning what field will be the best fit for me and gaining practice through an
internship which prepares me for a career in it. As I continue in this field, my experiences will
continue to shape my reality and therefore my philosophy.

Lumpkin, A. and Cuneen, J. (2001). Developing a personal philosophy of sport. Journal of

Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 72(8), 40-43.