Progress

I believe the research I have done has helped me understand a student-athlete from perspectives I hadn’t considered, even when I was an athlete. I’ve narrowed my focus and understood what I wanted to do in 4 quarters. While I was writing the paper, I wanted to add one small component: financial pressure and how D3/D2 players balance a job, academics, and sports. It’s another aspect I forgot about considering; I was doing it too. D3-level people are really doing it for the love of the game or because they’re talented enough to earn scholarships. One milestone I am especially proud of is developing a clearer central question for my documentary: What happens when an athlete’s identity becomes tied to their performance? This question gives my research a stronger direction and helps me connect the different sections of my project.

Again, I think I’ve gotten more organized with my thoughts than at the beginning of the semester. This week or next week, I want to start filming, or at least mock-filming.  I need to figure out the committee nonsense, and I have to have my synopsis typed up and proofread by Friday. Lastly, I have to at least start filming the athletes and know who the other people I plan to interview are. I have their titles but not their names. ANother milestone I am proud of is installing the “Post Conference” section into my piece as the solution-oriented segment. I think the name is amazing and really fits the structure I’ve set up. This helps with the flow and how each section contributes to the overall message.

I plan to use my research to establish my foundation of my documentary. It should guide the questions I ask during the piece ot highlight larger, affecting issues in student athletes. I want my newfound understanding of these topics to help everyone realize that these programs aren’t helping student-athletes discover themselves. I think my final paper should connect the documentary’s creative decisions to scholarly concepts and evaluate how effectively my project executes my intentions and message. As mentioned before, the most important part of the documentary is the solutions I present to encourage people to take action, understanding on a deeper level how athletic culture shapes athletes’ identities and well-being.

I am most looking forward to finishing the project. (lol) Seriously, I am looking forward to the next stages of production. I think that will calm all my nerves because I will see my project come to life. I want to begin conducting interviews and hearing directly from current and former athletes about experiences that audiences may not usually see. I planned to write my paper as soon as I do the interviews, but I’m not sure that’s realistic. I’m interested in how their testimonials may challenge or expand my and the audience’s understanding of athletic pressure and identity. I just want to know how everyone will react to the documentary and how it will turn out. I hope that other student athletes can understand AND connect to my project. I’m just anxious, but I guess I’ve been since we’ve started.