Erik

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__I Believe in Awkward Conversations__
I believe in awkward conversations at awkward times. You know those times where you and someone else are in an elevator together and its silent except the beeping sound as you reach the next floor, well I’ve learned to talk at those times and it’s because of something my Grandpa has always said “It’s more awkward to stay silent than to say hello”.

When I was younger I used to be pretty embarrassed about my Grandpa. This embarrassment didn’t stem from his looks, his old age, or his job; it was his personality. Now I know what you must be thinking, that my Grandpa must have been a mean person or just a grumpy old man constantly complaining how things were different in his day; however, I was embarrassed for just the opposite reason: he was too nice. Everywhere he went he would talk to absolutely everyone that came within ten feet of us. When I say that he talked to these people, I don’t mean just saying a simple hello; I mean he would carry on at the least a five minute intimate conversation with them. I wasn’t sure if they knew him or not and I don’t think he did either. I would have kids in my high school who I barely knew approach me to say that they had a long talk with my Grandpa on Saturday and how he went on and on about what a great kid I was and wanted to know what their impressions of me were. Which of course were all rave reviews since who’s going to tell some old man that their grandson isn’t the greatest person they’d ever met or that he’s an asshole. So this idea of meeting and greeting everyone I ran into really got a hold of me when I got a real job and entered the workforce.

Last year I got an internship working with Colorado Rapids, a Major League Soccer team, and I was determined to make my experience there the best and rewarding I could so I decided to take my Grandpa’s approach in life: get to know everyone. So instead of just walking by the players, coaches, upper management, and even the janitors not saying anything because I was a lowly intern, I would introduce myself every time and begin a somewhat awkward conversation. The plan was for them to get to know me, even if they really didn’t seem to care, and ask them how there day was going or if they caught the Nuggets game last night. It took a while for this plan to work, with people thinking my name was Derek or Kevin, but eventually real relationships began to form. In about two weeks from starting my internships I was being asked to settle sports debates, like if Jay Cutler is cry baby or not (he clearly is and always will be),or going to Nugget games with the players and even hitting the bars with them afterwards. Not only did I make friends, but this strategy of being the awkward conversation guy worked out, I now have a great resume with great contacts and I owe it all to most outgoing excessive friendly old man I know.

My name is Erik Wolf and I am currently a senior majoring in political science hoping to find a job in the field of sports management.