Colin

COLIN

Colin is a Senior, Sports Studies major at UNH.  This is his third year as Student Manager for the Hockey Team. He is responsible for all of their equipment and helping with day to day operations. Colin loves the job and it is a great learning experience as he wants to work in college athletics or coaching when he graduates this year. A high point of the job is traveling with the team to places like Minnesota and the Fleet Center. Colin was formally diagnosed with his learning disability during his Sophomore year at UNH and it was a relief to finally understand his strengths and weaknesses.


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MAKING THE TRANSITION TO COLLEGE

STRATEGIES

CONFIDENCE

HAVING A LEARNING DISABILITY

USING SERVICES

LIVING ON CAMPUS

 WORKING WITH THE HOCKEY TEAM


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WORKING WITH THE HOCKEY TEAM

I heard Coach Umile talk one day in the MUB (student union) about how he viewed life and what he thought was important. After his talk, I asked if I could help out with the hockey program in any way. I got involved with the team my sophomore year as their student manager. I worked really hard doing simple things and they started taking me everywhere. I went all the way to the Frozen Four with them!

 I put everything I can into hockey because I can be successful at it. I put in forty hours a week, sometimes more, sometimes less. It hasn’t impacted my school work in any negative way. It is good for time management. I have been on the other end too: times when you have all week to do work and don’t get around to it because there is so much free time. Now when I have a spare three hours or on my day off, I know what I need to get done!

Hockey has opened so many doors for me. Two years ago I knew the game of hockey from watching it on TV. Now I handle all of the equipment for the team and help the coaches with day to day activities. It is a demanding job. You need to juggle the needs of 30 guys and 5 coaches. You have to pay attention to detail. If you forgot to pack something important that is a big thing.  I have been in high pressure situations where a player’s skate breaks and I have to fix it in the middle of the game. I have learned how to sharpen skates. If it you don't understand something, you have to track down the answers. You keep talking to people and you watch what others do it. It all comes together. These are skills that are important in real life.

To feel that kind of success is really big especially when struggles in the classroom pile up. It makes it a little easier when you are beating your head against the wall in geography, it doesn’t seem as stressful. You have other view points. I have come so far from where I was. It is huge when you hear from someone you are doing a great job.