Slingshot Spotlight | Ryan

Helping young people dream big and find purposeful direction is incredibly rewarding—especially when you see them thrive, like Ryan.

Ryan was one of my first students during the pandemic, and we worked through the IDEAS Framework to help him chart a meaningful path. He was in college and feeling the pressure of not knowing his future, watching friends find their way while he felt lost. People suggested he become a doctor or study business, but neither resonated with him.

In our first Zoom session, we explored his interests. His mom mentioned his love for sports, and he shared that he enjoyed creative writing in high school. I suggested he consider a career as a social media manager for a sports team, writing stories and building excitement. That idea lit a spark. For the first time, he let himself imagine a future he was truly excited about.

From there, he dove into the work, meeting with me multiple times, switching to a sports management program, doing internships, and gaining valuable experiences. By the end of his senior year, he texted to share the exciting news: he’d accepted a fan experience job in a university athletic department.

Since then, Ryan’s continued to grow, now working at NC State Athletics in fan experience. I’m so proud of him, and here’s to all those inspired to dream bigger and know it’s possible.

- Tyler