What started out as a hobby has evolved into much more for rising senior Joy Brandenstein.
 
After diving into videography by filming her friends and nature scenes, Brandenstein's passion for videography and love of sports recently took her to the NCAA Career in Sports Forum, which further cemented this as a potential career path.
 
This spring, Brandenstein asked St. Olaf College Athletic Director Kelly Mahlum, who recruited Brandenstein to play basketball at St. Olaf during her time as the head women's basketball coach, for any job or internship recommendations for this summer within the sports field. Mahlum recommended that Brandenstein apply for the NCAA Career in Sports Forum, a four-day program at the NCAA National Office in Indianapolis for current NCAA student-athletes interested in working in college athletics and the broader sports industry.
 
"I am very pleased that Joy took advantage of the opportunity to attend the NCAA Career in Sports Forum," Mahlum said. "There are countless pathways for collegiate student-athletes to pursue careers in the sports industry, and this forum provides valuable exposure, networking, and insight into those possibilities. One of my goals as an athletic director is to connect our student-athletes with opportunities that enrich their overall experience and support their development - not only as athletes, but also as future professionals. Experiences like this help prepare them for success beyond graduation and reinforce our commitment to building champions in sport, leadership, and life."
 
After being nominated by Mahlum and going through an application process, Brandenstein was one of 200 NCAA student-athletes selected to attend the event last month. At the forum, Brandenstein and the other attendees listened to keynote speakers, participated in breakout sessions, listened to panels, and engaged in networking with her peers and professionals in the industry.
 
"Most of the breakout sessions focused on discovering qualities about you and how they translate to the workplace," Brandenstein said. "There were activities that involved teamwork to help you dive deeper into understanding different aspects of who you are, what you like, and how to reach your goals. There were also a variety of speakers, ranging from leadership and resume building, to learning how to connect with others, to insights working in the NBA/NFL, to hearing from coaches."
 
For Brandenstein, the most significant part of attending the event was developing a stronger understanding of her strengths and gaining clarity about her values and preferences.
 
"I really enjoyed listening to the panels of speakers who shared their experiences working on the creative side of sports and working in the NBA," she said. "Those insights helped me get a better understanding of what work within the field is actually like. I've also never networked before, so it was new for me to learn how to network and the techniques behind it."
 
The experience reinforced Brandenstein's interest in a future career in sports, specifically in photography, videography, and social media.
 
"Attending the forum helped me gain a better understanding of what a professional's workflow is like and the realities of working in the industry," she said. "The speakers shared honest insights about their careers and discussed their personal journeys as well. It was especially encouraging to hear how some speakers started on completely different career paths from the ones they ultimately pursued. It was reassuring to hear many of them emphasize that it is okay to change careers, explore different opportunities, and try new things."
 
In addition to playing basketball at St. Olaf, Brandenstein worked as a video creator/editor in the athletic department this past academic year, gathering highlights at events and making edits as time allowed. This summer, she has a media internship with Seattle Ultimate, the professional ultimate frisbee teams near her hometown of Shoreline, Wash. Brandenstein will attend practices and games to capture footage and produce edits for the teams. She will also be assistant with the social media presence for a basketball tournament company called DYSports.
 
"I've always been interested in videography and editing," Brandenstein said. "Growing up around sports, I developed a real appreciation for the environment and energy they create. As an athlete myself, I also enjoy watching sports edits because they do more than must make teams look good - they tell a story about the athletes and show a side of them beyond being seen as 'just an athlete.'"
 
Brandenstein's hands-on experiences have helped her develop the skills necessary to succeed in the industry but her decision to attend the NCAA Career in Sports Forum taught her valuable lessons about the journey to her eventual career.
 
"One of my biggest takeaways was the importance of learning and experimenting with a variety of fields to discover what I enjoy and what I do not. I also realized that skills I develop along the way - even in areas I choose not to pursue long-term - may still prove valuable as I continue down my career path."