Zach's Story

Zachary Gaskins,  B.S. in Education and Human Development - Sport Management (2023)
Student Recreation Center Customer Service Student Supervisor

Zachary Gaskins, from Bowling Green, Ohio has enjoyed his time with the Recreation and Wellness Department and looks forward to a couple more years with the department.

Zach came across the opportunity of a lifetime when he got connected with the department through information sessions that he attended right before he graduated high school. He knew that he wanted to join the team the moment he exited that info session. He says his dad was a big factor in persuading him to join the team, as both of his parents had worked at the Student Recreation Center when they were in college here at BGSU. Zach came in the summer of 2019 and immediately felt a sense of belonging within the department and enjoyed coming into work every day. After seeing how much he loved the department, he wanted to get more involved and applied to be a Center Manager, where from there moved up the ranks to Student Supervisor in January of 2020. In addition to being a supervisor, Zach is also a member of the Student Employee Board where he has served for a year and a half now.

Zach majors in Sport Management and is pursuing a minor in Marketing. Zach knew when he signed up that he was going to be getting an experience in the Recreation field, but never did he think he would gain the tools that he has. The Department of Recreation and Wellness has allowed me to find myself in my career and give myself a great head start on the professional atmosphere using various tools needed to succeed. He has had the pleasure of gaining useful tools that will help him work towards his degree and further on into his career. Zach stated, "The Department of Recreation and Wellness has allowed me to find myself in my career and give myself a great head start on the professional atmosphere using various tools needed to succeed. I never felt like I was strong in areas like communication and presentation, but working in the department has allowed me to master those skills that I take with me in my next step in my career."

Zach joined the team a newly graduate of high school and was not sure how he would fit in to a cast of people older than him and with more experience than him. He started the summer after he graduated and was quickly able to gain knowledge from everyone around him, from his student coworkers, all the way up to the professional staff members. There was no shortage of This is the type of atmosphere that I have always wanted to work in. help going around. He instantly felt like he was a part of the team within days. "This is the type of atmosphere that I have always wanted to work in and I am so fortunate to be able to work in an environment like this so early in my career,” Gaskins said.

From the early morning shifts, the swim meets, or even the late night events, Zach always is excited to come into work. The department made a worried incoming freshman feel like he was at home. The best part about the department is the people, and when you can enjoy what you do and who you do it with, then you know you have found your family.