Balancing the Beam and Business School

Going to graduate school wasn’t originally my next step. But life rarely goes according to plan.

In December of my senior year at West Virginia University, I suffered a season-ending injury while competing for the gymnastics team. At the time, I was focused on finishing my undergraduate degree and taking recovery one day at a time.

By March, it became clear that I wouldn’t be able to contribute to the team through competition. That forced me to confront a question I hadn’t fully answered yet: What comes next?

Throughout my time as a collegiate athlete, I had heard about the UC Davis gymnastics program. The team had just finished a strong season as Regional Qualifiers, placing among the top 36 collegiate gymnastics programs in the country.

As I began exploring graduate programs, I started looking for options that aligned with both my academic interests and my goal of continuing gymnastics for my final year of eligibility.

During a conversation with the UC Davis gymnastics head coach, I first heard about the Master of Management (MM) at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management (GSM). The program immediately caught my attention. Although it was a newer program, I learned that student-athletes from multiple sports had completed the program while balancing their seasons and had built a strong sense of community along the way.

The nine-month Master of Management fit my timeline and allowed me to earn a graduate degree rather than a certificate.

I would earn foundational business and management skills along with another degree that could support my long-term career goals.

Still, I had some hesitation.

A Non-Business Major Steps into UC Davis Business Management School

My undergraduate degree is in youth and family sciences from West Virginia University. Pursuing a graduate degree in a business school felt like a big shift.

The more I thought about my long-term plans, the more the decision made sense. My goal is to eventually run my own gymnastics program. Learning business fundamentals could help me develop the skills needed to manage and grow that kind of organization.

Once the MM program began, the difference between undergraduate and graduate school became clear very quickly. One of the biggest changes is the time commitment. Balancing that workload while competing in gymnastics requires discipline. Fortunately, my athletic background prepared me for that challenge.

Balancing UC Davis Athletics and the Master of Management

Communicating with professors and staying connected with classmates has also been essential. When practices, competitions and coursework all overlap, support from both faculty and peers makes a big difference. Many of us are navigating similar challenges while balancing athletics, academics and future career goals.

Going through a competitive season while enrolled in graduate school is not always easy. But it is possible.

With support from the faculty, coaches and classmates, I’ve been able to keep moving forward in both areas.

One of the most valuable things I’ll take away from my Master of Management experience is the networking and connections I’ve made within my cohort, with professors and with the School’s staff.

Those connections matter because they expand what feels possible after graduation. Conversations with classmates from different backgrounds, learning how to collaborate on projects and building relationships with faculty have all helped prepare me for opportunities beyond school.

Looking back on my journey so far as both a member of the GSM community and an athlete on the UC Davis gymnastics team, I would not change a thing.

Between the dedication of the gymnastics coaching staff and the flexibility of GSM faculty, I’ve been able to pursue both goals at the same time: earning a master’s degree from UC Davis while spending another year doing something I love.

For students considering graduate school while continuing athletics or balancing other commitments, that kind of balance can make all the difference.