Slack

Professional Philosophy
Alexandria Slack

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As a current student working towards a graduate degree in Sports Administration, I am
beginning to develop my professional philosophy. A philosophy is the most general beliefs,
concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group. It is no surprise that my professional
philosophy is a clear reflection of my personal philosophy. In order to even start developing my
professional philosophy I have to start by looking at where I have been, and how I got to where I
am right now. My influences come from my education, my family, the people I spend my time
with, and my experiences. Just as my professional philosophy has and will continue to evolve as
I grow so have my professional aspirations.
From a very young age I knew that I wanted to work as a professional in the sports
industry. Not because I wanted to play professionally, but because the atmosphere and energy
level at any sports event I attended was electric, something I wanted to be a part of. At Michigan
State University I focused my studies on the human body and characteristics of what makes a
healthy and successful athlete. I imagined my role would eventually be in the sports medicine
field. After graduation and working in an orthopedic and sports medicine office, I came to the
realization that the sports medicine field wasnt for me. After a lot of research I discovered a
very different side of sports and exercise science that I hadnt realized existed. Starting my
masters in the Sports Administration program at Wayne State University has allowed my to
continue to follow my passion.
Constructing my beliefs, attitudes, and goals in this environment I am so passionate about
has been an ongoing process. Because my professional philosophy is living and fluid, I am
certain it will continue to evolve. However, there are currently values and attitudes that exist as a
present part of my professional philosophy.

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I will be resilient. Resilience is defined as being able to withstand or recover quickly
from difficult situations. This type of behavior is something I have learned through several
experiences in my educational career and personal life. As an undergraduate student at MSU I
worked closely with a team of academic advisors. After nearly every academic advising
appointment, I left questioning my career choice. Walking home after every appointment I would
have to stop and remind myself that I could and would find the path that was right for me,
regardless of what anyone else was telling me. Not only did I have to be resilient in order to
overcome my educational obstacles I also had to be resilient in my everyday life. My family was
shocked and devastated my sophomore year when my dad passed away. Anyone who has lost a
parent as a teenager will understand the day-to-day resilience required to keep pushing ahead.
This type of resilience is so deeply engrained in who I am that I know it will serve me in
reaching my goal of working in the professional sports field. A field that demands resilience and
drive to create successful a career.
I will lead by example. Albert Schweltzer, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952,
stated that example is not the main thing in influencing others. . .it is the only thing (Maxwell
370). By leading in a positive way I will encourage and influence those around me to react to
every situation in a positive way. Regardless of if I am leading one person or thirty, or if I am
working alone or as part of a team, my attitude will be directly reflected in those around me.
John C. Maxwell has written many books on leadership and he points out that people mimic their
leaders behavior, and leaders set the tone for everyone else (Maxwell 370). This is the perfect
description of leading by example.
I will help and serve. Giving back to the community is a character trait that I was raised
to embrace. From a very young age I remember volunteering my time to help many different

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charities. By stopping and giving to others the focus was directed to the needs of others. Using
my career to spread some good back into the community and taking the time to focus on others
needs is something I plan to do. I truly hope that one day I will be working in a community
outreach department helping to spread some good back to the community as part of my
profession.
When I sat down to write an outline for this philosophy I was surprised by some of the
values that came to mind. The key points in my professional philosophy are already a part of my
personal standards and ideals. But in todays world, a quiet reflective moment without
interruption can be hard to come by, but the opportunity to reflect and state my philosophy with
clarity has been time well spent. I think this is something important to remember. My philosophy
will continue to grow as my career grows. It will be important to reflect on this and add to it
when necessary. By doing this I hope that I can stay focused and driven to accomplish my goals.

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References:
1. Philosophy [Def. 1]. (n.d.). In Merriam Webster Online, Retrieved December 12, 2015,
from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/philosophy.
2. Resilience [Def. 2]. (n.d.). In Merriam Webster Online, Retrieved December 12, 2015,
from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resilience.
3. Maxwell, J. (2003). Leadership: Promises for Every Day, A Daily Devotional.
Nashville, Tennessee: J. Countryman.