Q&A with Former Eagle Crysten Curry
2/16/2022 12:00:00 PM | Volleyball
Georgia Southern Athletics Highlighting Successful Student-Athletes As Part Of Black History Month
1. How did your time at Georgia Southern pave the way for your success?
My time at Georgia Southern taught me how to fall in love with the process - or the journey - to success. Most athletes spend countless hours grinding through early morning practices, weight lifting, conditioning, classes, and more for one chance to pursue a championship; so, the joy is really found in the journey. The best athletes show up to practice like they're beginners, and approach games like they're experts, and I apply that same notion to work. I look at each day as its own learning lesson, offering me new ways to grow and expand my existing skill set, and I learned that from being a student-athlete. Additionally, I call on my previous athletic experience daily to best deal with personalities, be an effective leader, resolve conflict, and establish clear team and individual goals.
2. How did being a student-athlete prepare you for the position that you are in today?
There are so many intangible skills that you develop as a student-athlete that you can leverage to become a better leader and colleague. As a student-athlete, you're balancing a 20+ hour/week sport commitment in addition to a full course load, and that time management skill is invaluable in the workforce as you juggle competing responsibilities. I'm more equipped to identify priorities, establish goals, and create a clear path to achieve them because of my experience as a student-athlete.
3. What is your current career? What do you enjoy most about it?
I currently lead the PR and communications efforts for the dating app, OkCupid! Since graduation, I've always held traditional PR/Comms roles, and I love the storytelling behind what I do. Public relations is an umbrella term for earned media and reputation management, so it's all the behind-the-scenes work to help frame how people perceive and interact with a brand. As an exclusively inclusive dating app, a lot of my work involves letting people know through press, influencer relations, social media, blog writing, and creative campaigns that this app is uniquely designed to help any dater find what they're looking for out of their next relationship. We have an incredible product, which accommodates both traditional and non-traditional dating preferences, so we speak to a wide net of individuals - both domestically and internationally. I love making people feel seen, heard, and represented in the work that I do, and I've found that working in tech is just as rewarding as beauty and professional sports (both industries I worked in previously).
4. Who was your biggest inspiration at Georgia Southern?
Aside from my dad, who is the reason I fell in love with Georgia Southern University, I'd say my International Studies professor, Darin Van Tassel, was one of my biggest inspirations there. Not only is he in the Hall of Fame from his days playing baseball at Georgia Southern, but he's a true testament of what it means to be an Eagle. He pours into each of his students through every touch point that you have with him and was a true supporter of the women's volleyball program during my time there. I aspire to exude that same level of grace and empathy that he so effortlessly displays both in my professional and personal life. During one of my final classes with him, he asked us to write letters to educators that have played a special role in our lives, so let's consider this my letter to him!
5. How do you hope to serve as a role model to younger Black athletes and women?
The people who have left lasting impressions on me are the ones that are transparent and forthcoming about their journey to success, and that's what I intend to do with younger Black athletes and women. In staying connected with Georgia Southern, I speak regularly with existing athletes and students from my program to help ease that transition from college to the real world. I don't sugarcoat any mistakes I've made, and I certainly don't gate keep any tips I've found to success. The easiest way to be an effective role model is to share authentically from your own experience. In just a few years, I've achieved a lot in my career, but the lows present just as many lessons as the highs, and I never shy away from sharing those.
6. What does Black History Month mean to you?
To me, Black History Month is equal parts celebration and acknowledgement. We're acknowledging the history of Black Americans, while celebrating all that we are, and will become! It's a special month to highlight the many ways we contribute to society, and fight for injustices that are still present today. For non-Black people, Black History Month is an opportunity to learn and understand how to be an effective ally and push for equality for the remaining months.
