Kristen Low
Kristen Low ’16 works just outside the Cleveland area in recreation programming, specifically sports and fitness, by assisting the sports coordinator in setting up youth leagues, evaluating at tryouts, scheduling practices and games, assigning equipment, reporting scores, etc.
Changing Majors and an Internship
Low graduated with her B.A. in Sociology from the College of Arts & Sciences at Ohio University. She started at OHIO as a Biological Sciences major but soon realized that wasn’t for her. Then in her sophomore year she enjoyed her Intro to Sociology class so much that she decided to change her major to Sociology.
“Senior year I added the minor in Recreation Management because I couldn’t get away from the sports,” Low says.
Not surprisingly, her favorite class was Sociology of Sport because it helped tie the two together.
The summer going into senior year Low picked up an internship in programs at her local recreation center and has been there ever since!
The Best Part
Her favorite part of her job is working with children. This winter she successfully ran her own basketball clinic for first and second grade children.
“It is very rewarding to not only see the kids improving their abilities but also showing good sportsmanship,” she comments.
Her basketball clinic was such a success that she landed a job with the Cleveland Cavaliers Academy as a part of their coaching staff for youth clinics and summer camps!
Challenge and Progress
“The biggest challenge I’ve faced so far in shaping my path has been finding my place as a woman in a male dominated field,” Low says.
She points out that the turnout for baseball, basketball, and soccer is nearly 80% male, and parent and student coaches are almost always male as well. She is one of few women working in the sports programming office.
“It’s interesting that being a basketball-minded female actually played a major role in my hire as a Cleveland Cavaliers youth coach,” Low explains. “Upon receiving the offer of the position, I was told that the organization values female presence and that we bring a different perspective to the court in an otherwise mainly male niche. That, to me, was very justifying and only makes me more excited for my progression on this track.”
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