Long Beach State University Athletics
Photo by: Photo by John Fajardo
SAAC Spotlight: Goals Outside Of the Net
9/26/2018 10:45:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Imani McDonald takes strides as a leader for student-athletes.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State senior Imani McDonald is a full-time student athlete at the university. Her last four years have been spent competing as a division one soccer player, and becoming the voice for athletes on campus.
McDonald demonstrates many great leadership qualities. She is involved with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and became the ASI Senator At-Large with over 200 votes from her peers. Her representation gives athletes the opportunity to express their needs from the university.
"I think it's important that all of upper campus, all of the university knows that as athletes we are also people; individuals seeking our degrees and looking to better ourselves past athletics," McDonald stated.
As Senator At-Large, McDonald has created a plan of action to establish ASI game days, allowing commuting students to become more involved with the athletic teams on campus. Her goal is to create a more inclusive and supportive environment during home games.
McDonald believes that her communications degree and minor in event planning have been beneficial to the different positional titles she currently holds. "A lot of what I do is to stay available to my constituents," she said. "Most athletes will catch me walking to and from class expressing their concerns, and I genuinely like learning people's stories and hearing what they have to say."
Time management has been key to McDonald's success during her years at Long Beach State. Her weekdays consist of strength and conditioning workouts, practice, class, ASI meetings, SAAC meetings, and on weekends she competes in soccer games for the Beach.
"When I go on away trips for games it's like a break because I get to catch up on a lot of work, whether it be writing out an agenda or doing my homework. Sometimes it's just a breath of fresh air."
After graduation, McDonald looks to continue her education and either go back to get a second degree in public relations or go to law school. Her career aspirations include becoming a compliance director or to pursue public relations for professional sports teams.
"I believe that my time as an undergraduate has made me fully equipped and prepared for my future goals," she stated. "Soccer will always be a love of mine, and only Jesus knows the path I will take."
McDonald demonstrates many great leadership qualities. She is involved with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and became the ASI Senator At-Large with over 200 votes from her peers. Her representation gives athletes the opportunity to express their needs from the university.
"I think it's important that all of upper campus, all of the university knows that as athletes we are also people; individuals seeking our degrees and looking to better ourselves past athletics," McDonald stated.
As Senator At-Large, McDonald has created a plan of action to establish ASI game days, allowing commuting students to become more involved with the athletic teams on campus. Her goal is to create a more inclusive and supportive environment during home games.
McDonald believes that her communications degree and minor in event planning have been beneficial to the different positional titles she currently holds. "A lot of what I do is to stay available to my constituents," she said. "Most athletes will catch me walking to and from class expressing their concerns, and I genuinely like learning people's stories and hearing what they have to say."
Time management has been key to McDonald's success during her years at Long Beach State. Her weekdays consist of strength and conditioning workouts, practice, class, ASI meetings, SAAC meetings, and on weekends she competes in soccer games for the Beach.
"When I go on away trips for games it's like a break because I get to catch up on a lot of work, whether it be writing out an agenda or doing my homework. Sometimes it's just a breath of fresh air."
After graduation, McDonald looks to continue her education and either go back to get a second degree in public relations or go to law school. Her career aspirations include becoming a compliance director or to pursue public relations for professional sports teams.
"I believe that my time as an undergraduate has made me fully equipped and prepared for my future goals," she stated. "Soccer will always be a love of mine, and only Jesus knows the path I will take."
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