Raiders Wrap-Up

CONFIDENCE IS KEY

Gold medal experience

Sometimes it’s the most unlikely of experiences that can give you a new unique perspective. That’s what happened to student-athlete Raekyiah Williams when she took an internship over the summer at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Williams, who hails from Fountain, Colorado and plays on MSOE’s women’s basketball team, made the most of her experience and it led to some out-of-the-box chances to learn about her major, biomedical engineering.

At her internship, Raekyiah Williams met Dartanyon Crockett, a Judo athlete and Paralympian. He won the bronze medal in the men’s 90 kg. division at both the 2012 Summer Paralympics and the 2016 Paralympics. Crockett is legally blind.

“I was initially interested in the position because of its connection to sports,” said the sophomore guard. “I wanted something that had to do with sports since I play in college, and I thought it would be fun.”

Williams was hired as a guest experience team member. Every day she would work in a different area of the museum and assist guests with any questions they had, as well as provide useful information that would enhance their experience during their visit. This in itself had a learning curve to it, as she didn’t have much background on the Olympic games. “When I initially applied for the job, I didn’t really know what it entailed, I just thought it sounded cool. I’ve never really watched the Olympics or Paralympics, so I didn’t know much about them.”

Williams worked in the campus’ four different sections: Introduction to the Games, the Summer Games, the Lab and the Athletic Training Wing. It was the Lab that piqued her interest the most.

MSOE student-athlete Raekyiah Williams met Jackie Joyner-Kersee, a track and field athlete and four-time Olympian. She is ranked among the all-time greatest athletes in the heptathlon and long jump.

“The Lab was my favorite gallery to work in because it was interesting and aligned well with my major, biomedical engineering,” said Williams. “This gallery showed the science behind the games and the improvements made every day.” The Lab Wing even included some pieces that belonged to Olympic and Paralympic history. “They showcased a running blade that was created by a biomedical engineer who lost his leg and was looking for a better prosthetic leg. I also worked with a Paralympian Tyler Carter who let me check out his prosthetic and how it worked.”

The Lab section of the museum wasn’t just appealing to Williams—it also gave her the inspiration for her future career. “The Lab helped me to physically see the role that the sciences play in sports. I was able to see so many different paths that I could potentially take with my degree and how I could apply it to another part of my life that I love.”

Williams pointed out how this internship could impact the next one she chooses. “Now I have an idea of what things I can do to help improve experiences for other athletes in all kinds of sports, or just with training overall. The Lab also sparked an interest in medical devices which I will be looking deeper into, especially when it comes time for my next internship.”

Williams learned so much this past summer: history of the games, new and interesting ways that could lead to career paths, and advice given to her by Olympic greats such as Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Sheryl Swoopes. But it was more than just that. She got to learn something about herself along the way. “One of the biggest things I took away from my time there was that confidence is key. I was really nervous my first week because I had to talk to guests and people that I didn’t know all day, but I quickly learned that when you speak with confidence, it’s not hard to talk to new people.”

Williams also wanted to speak on the idea of taking an internship that might be out of your comfort zone and away from what you think your future career might be. “My advice for other students looking for internships is to not be afraid of a job that doesn’t completely align with what you want or what you think you might end up doing. You never know where you’ll find your passion if you lock yourself into a certain type of job or something very specific to your major.”

She also got to experience firsthand the value of not waiting to take an internship. “It’s especially good as a freshman going into sophomore year to just look for something more fun or not exactly what you want because there isn’t the pressure of actually getting a job with your degree. You can essentially do whatever you want. I used to want to work in a hospital and after working at the museum I am now open to working in athletics and medical devices. This just goes to show you can learn things about yourself and your future in any workplace.”