Sumin Jeong, Content Contributor

On 12/21/2014, IE Sports Net invited Megan Reza as our guest for our show.

She was a star volleyball player at University of California Riverside, and now she is building a new career as a sports broadcaster. While having an interview with her, I could feel her enthusiasm and ambition toward her dream. Below is the full transcription of the interview with her.

Q: Could you tell me your brief biography? How did you start to play volleyball?
I am 22 years old, and I was born and raised in Huntington Beach in California.
I started to play volleyball when I was about 7th grade. Even before, I always played other sports. However, since my mom was a big volleyball player at University Washington, I guess it is my blood. I was recruited to play for UC Riverside at my senior high school. I played two seasons for the head coach, Ron Larsen, and after he left, we now got a new head coach Michelle Patton.

Q: What is your goal as a volleyball player?
My biggest goal as a sports player was to get a scholarship to play in college.
I feel like I already accomplished that. However, I still love playing game. I really enjoy going down to play beach volleyball near my place with friends, so I would say volleyball is still my passion, but I am ready to move on to do something other thing. I don’t want to pursue it professionally though because to keep the best fitness is the key to success if you want to be a professional athlete.

Q: What was the most difficult thing throughout your sports player’s career?
In August 2013, I was really struggling with my knee injury. Because I had my right knee surgery almost right before starting season, I pushed myself a little bit to come back earlier than expected. Moreover, my best friend was running for competitions, and I wished to play with her. As a result, I ended up being injured again. In the following year, I had another surgery on the right knee. It was really hard time to adjust myself to the different body condition for two years because I had to be changed about how to play.

Q: During that time, did you come up with the idea of changing your career path as a sports broadcaster?
Actually I didn’t. I thought of being a broadcasting reporter when I came to college.
However, UCR does not have specific sports broadcasting paths. So, I searched them by myself and found out IE Sports Net.

Q: What would be the strengths for whom having sports player background and pursuing sports broadcaster?
Definitely it would be helpful. I mean, I have already gone through certain things that college sports players are going through, and I understand their feeling. For example, I understand when athletes are happy, how they treat each game, and what is going on in the team, etc. These really help because sport reporting is all about capturing athlete’s story eventually.

Q: What would be your tips before you go for a big interview?
I do research as much as possible. I am a big fan of putting your time, and get things done. When you get more prepared, you will see better result.
So, I would like to say to young students, “Put your time and sacrifice yourself for your own dream”. To do that, you have to discipline yourself not to lose track of time to play or to go out partying. In case of me, I am pretty self-taught and read many books about journalism and broadcasting.

Q: What is your biggest accomplishment?
I won 2014 Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association. It was scholarship. I did not realize how big it was until I got to the venue. Every broadcaster and reporter from L.A. area including Vin Scully from Dodgers came for this event. I was honored at that time just being able to along side with these people. There were lots of amazing candidates from USC or UCLA as well. I am still shocked about being able to name the winner among those.

Q: It is my last question. What is your final goal?
My ultimate goal is to keep building my career as a sports broadcaster. I am putting everything that I can do right now. If it does not go well, I have plan B to be a teacher following my parents. Both are teachers.

It was pleasant time for me all the way through the interview with her. She was really nice, pretty, and talented young lady. She was even humble! I believe that what she just shared with me will inspire many students who have same passion for a sports broadcaster.