Googling Yourself:
Step 1: Self Identity is attribute about someone that determines who they want to display themselves as to others. In my personal life, I feel like I can be considered an “open book” and keep most of my life public, especially with working in athletics starting from sophomore year of high school. Throughout my career, I felt like I was known to people through the consistency of my social media posts and Instagram stories, but having the opportunity to Google myself, it led me into shock. In hopes of seeing something regarding anything about me or my past, I get nothing. Simply a musician named ‘Michael Taylor’ drew Google’s attention more. However, after advanced searching by adding my hometown or the local sports website I used to work for finally showed who I was: my high school basketball stats, the photos and articles I’ve published for other sports teams on lowco sports, and my old Twitter posts are what the Internet perceives me to be in a “nutshell”. It immediately led me to question if my work in the past few years simply didn’t matter to anyone on the Internet, having nothing but a few images regarding my past basketball career. Fortunately, it was a reality check I never thought I needed for my future endeavors working in athletics. Realizing that sports media is trending for most college students, including half of my Digital Storytelling class, I know I need to figure out ways to stand out and become known as a reporter and marketer with my name being the first thing you search for on Google.
Get to Know the “Coach”
Step 1: Have you ever been asked: if you could change one thing you regret in your past, what would it be, and how would you change it? If someone asked me that question at this moment, the answer would be valuing my self-worth. My strengths, passions, and goals were never prioritized because of the care I had for others’ successes, which led me to be very insecure growing up. The “voice” I never listened to finally kicked after a nasty breakup in high school, where I realized I can fulfill happiness is knowing my own self-worth and learn to love myself. I found out I’m very hard working in what I’m passionate about: sports and school. I like to be social with as many people as possible, and I would like to think I’m a funny person once you get to know me. Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed with how many different people I talk to daily. I consider being happy is one of my main personality traits, but also I tend to be a very anxious person behind the smile.
Furthermore, creativity is another aspect of my life I tend to take seriously because I believe it gives people a narrative of who I am and what I’m capable of doing. I strive for greatness just because I know with my hardworking personality, I will make sure things go as perfectly as it does in my head. My goals career-wise would be becoming a sports marketer or reporter one day and working for any professional sports team or SEC if I decide to work for bigger universities. Having the opportunities that I have currently with my internship at Furman has been a blessing I never knew would change my mentality on how I look at myself, unlocking the determination I knew I had.
Step 2: Charismatic, ambitious, funny, spontaneous, and energetic, are simply a few of the many adjectives others perceive me to be, but the words “bubbly” and “caring” were two adjectives that each person I asked had in common with the
description on who I am. I only asked 3 friends. Family and friends often know that I’m a hardworking individual who often “intercepts the pass” and puts others before herself any day, which can be a blessing and a curse. When asked about my strengths, the phrase “career-oriented” stood out to me the most because most students don’t know their overall “game plan” when going into college, but I knew right when I came to Furman what I want to do and how I’m going to get there. My peers title me as a “communicator”, or one that likes to “break the ice” whenever conversations get dull. However, they also know I would rather work independently than being in a group setting because of my perfectionist tendencies.
Step 3: Ultimately, the goal in life is to become successful, and for me, whatever I decide to do, I want to work my way up to become a boss. In six months, I intend to work for Furman Athletics still, covering sports like softball and lacrosse, possibly bring in front of the camera reporting from the sidelines. In a year from now, the goal is to be one more step into becoming Assistant Director of Marketing for Furman Athletics and getting the connections I need for after college and other internships. Five years from now, I would be out of school after getting my Masters’ degree, and moving wherever my job wants me to go, but I don’t know where I would dream of going yet. Finally, in 10 or more years, I see myself working hard as a boss for a company or news station producing sports content and reporting, not just by myself, but also dreaming of a family and getting them involved as soon as possible working into the sports field.
Step 4:
- Target Audience:
1) Athletes
2) Atheltes who advocate for mental health awareness
3) Coaches
4) Viewers who enjoy reading about athletics
5) Anyone involved with working for ESPN, NCAA, etc
Step 5:
- Colors:
1) Furman purple
2) Light gray
3) Charcoal gray
4) Black
5) Gold
6) Some navy blue indications
- Typeface:
1) Plantagenet Cherokee- for blogs/Microsoft
2) Bakersville- for blogs/Microsoft
3) Oswald Medium- website
4) Droid Serif- website
5) Playfair Display Board- website
