This class went by quick, but looking back, I actually got a lot out of it. I’ve always loved sports, but I never really thought about how much communication plays into everything. Like yeah, we all watch games and follow our teams, but now with social media and how fast stuff spreads, fans are way more involved than they used to be. We’re not just sitting there watching anymore. We’re part of the conversation now.

One of the assignments I really liked was when I got to write about the BYU vs. Utah rivalry. That was honestly just fun to do. I’ve grown up around that rivalry, I’ve been in it as a fan, and I’ve seen how intense it gets. So being able to take something that I’ve experienced and turn it into an actual piece for class was pretty cool. It gave me a chance to break it down in a way I never really have before, and it showed me how the media side of things, especially social media, just keeps that rivalry alive year-round.

Another one that stuck with me was the Sport Media Diet assignment. At first, I thought it would be super basic, but once I started tracking what I actually take in every day, it made me realize how much I’m locked into sports content without even trying. I don’t even have TikTok, but between Instagram Reels, Twitter, YouTube, and all the alerts I get, it’s non-stop. That assignment made me realize how different things are now compared to five years ago. I used to just watch SportsCenter or catch a game. Now I’m getting quick clips all day long. It made me think about how different the media world is and how much that actually matters if you want to work in sports.

For me, I know I want to stay in the sports world, but probably more on the business side. Even though I won’t be the one posting on social or editing highlight reels, knowing how content works and how fans think is still a big deal. This class helped me see the full picture a little better, and that’s something that’ll definitely help me wherever I end up.