The bulk of the AKA hiring season is January-February. We have interviewed 96 new and returning applicants; and yes, there’s room for more!

I like to make this an annual report. An opportunity to review what we’ve learned from the words, the energies, and the apprehensions of these recent AKA applicants, as well as a time to reflect on the promise of what’s ahead thanks to an upcoming generation of ambitious and intelligent leaders.

McKaela and Drew have taken on an increasing role in the interview process over the last two years. I love to to see these two engaged and gaining valuable experience from this vital process. Here’s what we found from summer interviews:

• 96 applicants for new and returning Staff Directors and Coaches.
  (of which 63% are returning Staff)

• 19 new teachers and education majors applied.

• The most popular majors/careers of these applicants, in order, are (1) Business/Marketing, (2) Psychology, (3)Education, (4) Exercise Science, (5) Doctors/Medicine.

I love this list by the way. Everyone is ambitious for a bright future ahead, no matter their field, school, age, or demographic. I think there’s a lot to be said about this latest top 5 majors/careers. Not just for AKA’s employees, but for the world in general. (Reminder, a year ago, in 2022, I spoke enthusiastically about the number of education majors, which I thought was phenomenally encouraging.)

When you’re in your first years of college or heading there soon, and you have to start choosing a career path, Marketing is one of those majors you find out about and you say yeah, commercials and advertisements. You don’t really know what all goes on in this field really until you take a college course focusing on Marketing. That was the case for me. It only took a few Sports Marketing classes, and I was hooked!

Years later, having been around marketing interns, professionals and agencies, you learn the truth of how competitive and demanding it is. You also learn of the astounding innovations and budgets of companies, big and small. A marketing career is one in which clever and ambitious students can excel at. These students are eager to learn, create, and succeed in a challenging yet rewarding environment. A marketing career path can lead in many directions and it is hard to determine where one will land in the marketing field. I was one of those very students!

A psychology career path is similar. Clever, more empathetic individuals, who want to continue to learn and help people, but don’t fully know where the psychology career path will take them.

The other three on the list -- education, exercise science, and medicine -- what more does the world need than that! Again, everyone interviewed, in high school, college, or just graduated -- big ups for a big future ahead, no matter your field of interest.

In the end, whatever you watch or read, don’t let the negative bring you down.
The future is positively bright and full of promise.
Whatever you do, don’t give in to fear.
Work hard and keep dreaming in color.

Just keep it moving forward… progress wins! -CS