Blog #8- Final Blog and Reflection

 When it comes to inspirations for this project, it is hard to put my finger on an exact one. However, I would definitely say that my dad was a big part of it. He has helped plan and put on events in Cleveland for many years and it has always been something that seemed so cool to me. I knew I wanted more of a taste of it, so I decided to see what I could find in the world of sports and events. 

I think that overall this project was an extremely positive experience for me and I have loved seeing it grow since the beginning. Initially, I struggled to piece together a structured schedule of my weeks which was a bit frustrating, which is the only thing I would say was (initially) a weakness in my project. However after talking to my mentor things came together and I felt a lot better. I came into this project wanting to learn as much as possible, and I think I accomplished that really well. I really enjoyed being able to be so closely engaged with my mentor, Mr. Matt Sajna, and I had amazing opportunities to connect with and get to know the rest of the staff at the Cleveland Sports Commission. I liked how he made me feel like a colleague rather than a student just helping out. I felt like the work I did contributed to the work they were doing and made a significant impact. 

I couldn’t put into words the amount that I’ve learned throughout this project. I got to learn about people, positions, events, all kinds of sports, and the city of Cleveland. I got insider knowledge on a lot of big events that I would have no idea about otherwise. I truly came to understand how much work actually goes into hosting an event from start to finish. The main event that I worked on, the Pan American Masters Games, will not be held until 2024. Even so, I started working out specifics during my project to take a next step towards planning for that event. Considering that all different types of sports are a part of these games, all kinds of venues are needed, and they can’t all conveniently be in the city already. I had to evaluate venues all over northeast Ohio, researching everything about them and finding certain distances between them and from the city to find the best fit option for the event. I highlighted some of my favorite things that I learned in more detail in previous blog posts.

In terms of Hawken connecting with the Cleveland Sports Commission in the future, there are already options in line based on what I just worked on! Hawken is a potential venue for a few sports of the Pan American Masters Games, so a really cool opportunity could present itself if that ended up being the chosen option!

For those who are nearing the creation of their own Hawken Project, I would really stress the importance of thinking and planning ahead. Even if you are not close, it is always helpful to have things in mind prior to your approach. Start reaching out early, it will do you better to have a secured mentor and idea so that you are not stressing out about your plans last minute. USE YOUR MENTOR!! They have agreed to that position, and they are there to help. There is so much you can learn from someone who is knowledgeable in a certain field, and this is the perfect opportunity to do so. This could open up opportunities for you down the line as well. Most importantly, although cliché, would be to have fun!! You have three weeks where you get to take the lead, so embrace it and enjoy yourself!

My most important takeaway from this project would be that there is always a way to help. I came into this project not knowing how much of an impact I could make, and I ended up helping a lot! What might seem like a smaller contribution can actually go a long way if it is done right. 

I would like to thank Matt Sajna and David Gilbert for mentoring me during my time on my Hawken Project. I really appreciated the effort they put in to help me learn and get me involved. I know they are both very busy so it meant a lot to me that they took time out of their days to speak with me, set things up for me, and help teach me so many things. I also was very thankful to get time in the actual office, which really tied the experience all together for me. I am excited to get involved with their nonprofit in the future through volunteer work, and I can’t thank them enough for the impact that this made on my life and experience as a student!