My name is Katie Titus and I am a junior on the women’s basketball team here at Daemen, studying childhood and special education.
I’ve worked my entire life to become a student-athlete and compete at the collegiate level. I have dedicated so many hours to perfecting my craft, that in many ways, it has become my identity. But unfortunately, basketball doesn’t last forever. The time will soon come when I have to hang up my jersey. So, what comes next?
I found myself asking this question incessantly over the last several months as I am coping with the effects of COVID-19 and observing the current state of our world. I wanted to do more than just sit back and fall into the same routine which involves having little effect on those around me.
To satisfy my urge to shine some light on the world during this dark time, I accepted a position as an Impact Intern at a non-profit organization called Pencils of Promise, a global organization that brings quality education to kids around the world. Our work is primarily focused in Ghana, Guatemala, and Laos where the organization has built over 500 schools. Within these schools, Pencils of Promise has implemented teacher support programs, hygiene programs, and technology support that has impacted more than 110,000 students in these developing nations.
As an intern with this amazing, for-purpose organization, I have the opportunity to network, expand my horizons, and contribute to the solution for the global education crisis. I partake daily in grant-writing, budgeting, and communication with our global teams.
Being a part of Daemen Athletics is more than just winning games and competing for championships. As student-athletes here, we are encouraged to develop ourselves in a well-rounded manner, and shown ways to do so. We are being set up for success beyond our four years here and challenged to exceed the student-athlete label.
So, what comes next I ask myself again? Using my experiences to have a positive impact on the world, that's what comes next.
