Olympics experience continues making an impact
By Morgan Schutters, a sophomore from Berea, Ky.
WILMORE—What if you had a career changing experience, before you graduated college? These Asbury graduates did. Peter Cooke ’03, Jason Parmer ’03 and Sarah Seaton ’05 all worked at an Olympic games during their time at Asbury College as media communications majors.
Cook who worked at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake said, “[T]here is nothing quite like the pressure involved with it. Working at the Olympics causes you to realize that your mistakes will be seen by people in virtually every country of the world.”
Graduates remember lifelong lessons they have learned from the Olympic experience. Cook explains that the kindness and graciousness of the long-time professionals to teach and help him was invaluable. He said, “I was surprised at how much a part of the team I felt after just a few weeks.” It helped him to confirm the direction he wanted to take in his career, and gave him a much greater appreciation for the crew when he watches sports on TV. Cook also shared that “working at the Olympics always makes for good small talk too!”
Parmer also went to the Salt Lake City Olympics. After weeks of preparation, running cables, setting up cameras, and getting familiar with the crew and equipment, Parmer said the most breathtaking experience was seeing the stands filled with spectators. “We witnessed world records being broken-right there-within arm’s reach. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget. I just had goose bumps. I realized, ‘I’m at the Olympics!’ This is for real.”
Parmer worked as a crane camera assistant at the speed skating venue helping run cameras. He said, “[T]he most amazing shots were at the Olympics – panning and soaring through the track. It was amazing – so unbelievable to be at the world’s largest sporting event and surrounded by the best athletes alive.” Aside from the sheer magnitude of being there, Parmer said that the Olympic experience has been a bright spot on his resume, and a conversation starter in so many places. “I know that working at the Olympics has opened a lot of doors for me professionally,” he said.
Wanting to be a part of something worldwide was real for Parmer at Salt Lake. He said he is amazed at how it felt to be involved in “something way bigger than me; something that everyone knows about. Going to the Olympics is a must-do if you are an Asbury media student. It is hard work, but the experience is unbeatable. It will change your life and open up countless opportunities. Working at Salt Lake was the ultimate in ‘hands-on’ experience. It does not get any more top level than that.”
To have worked at the largest sports venue in the world is the best TV experience Parmer has ever had. He said, “it provided a way to test and hone my skills, and gave me experience recognized by professionals as quite an accomplishment.” Parmer is now a director for Apparel Studios in Nicholasville, Kentucky.
Work experience is not the only thing that Seaton, who worked for the 2004 Athens Olympics, gained. She is currently the promotions producer for WJLA in Washington, D.C. Seaton received eternal rewards on top of all the earthly acclaim. She says that the Olympics “absolutely changed my entire perspective on sports production and being a Christian in the business,” and knows God has helped grow her through the Olympics. “I was surrounded by people who didn’t love the Lord. God knew exactly what he was doing. He placed me exactly where he wanted.” Seaton worked in the International Broadcasting Center, and share her testimony with producers and editors she encountered every day.
Seaton recalls a specific incident at the Olympics where she can now see how God used her. After a few days sitting back in the corner as a logger, Seaton decided to get to know the people she was working with alongside including several producers and one editor. “The topic of faith came up every day,” she said. “They had questions and were ready to ask me. I had an opportunity to speak truth into their lives every day.” In exchange Seaton realizes that they taught her the business. “I hope I made an eternal impact,” Seaton said.
“Every day had challenges,” Seaton remembers, “But blessings too!” She had the opportunity to pray with a girl struggling with hopelessness. “The Lord truly gave me favor with every person I met.” To this day, She believes that her Olympic experience is what helped her land her first job in television. “I mean, how many of the other candidates can say they worked at the Olympics!” She exclaims.
All the Asbury Media Communication graduates share one commonality. They have each learned so much about what goes into the largest sports broadcast in the world. Seaton learned about how to share her faith with her coworkers on top of all the training she gleaned. Seaton said, “I learned how to give up and let the Lord be in control, because in the end His ways are higher than ours!”
Released: April 7, 2008
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Tagged: alumni, olympics, media-communication and features
