Cornell's ILR School is known for it's impact on the world of work. I conducted grant-funded research under Professor Emily Zitek. My research focused on motivation in college athletes related to scholarship status in the pre-NIL era.
TEAM AND CULTURE
My research contributed to a deeper understanding of motivation among athletes, fostering conversations on campus's nationwide around what drives performance beyond financial incentives. By sharing findings with peers and faculty, I supported a culture of intellectual curiosity and encouraged a nuanced view of motivation within sports performance.
ADAPTABILITY AND PROBLEM SOLVING
The research required adaptability as I encountered varying responses and perspectives from athletes across sports. Adjusting research methodologies and navigating challenges with data collection taught me to think creatively and find solutions to achieve reliable, impactful results under evolving conditions — specifically qualitative responses.
INITIATIVE AND PROACTIVITY
Taking the initiative to explore motivation among athletes in the pre-NIL era, I designed and conducted the research from start to finish. This proactive approach allowed me to address a unique and relatively unexplored area at the time, bringing new insights into the motivations driving athletes who weren’t financially incentivized, as well as the potential decrease in motivation for those who were financially incentivized.
LEARNING AND GROWTH
This project provided a rich learning experience, enhancing my research skills and deepening my understanding of sports psychology and intrinsic motivation. I approached every phase with curiosity, treating each challenge as a chance to learn, which has strengthened my problem-solving and analytical abilities.
CROSS FUNCTIONALITY
Conducting this research required collaboration with coaches, athletes across the nation, and academic advisors. Through effective communication and alignment on objectives, I gained valuable insights that improved the depth of the study and underscored the importance of interdisciplinary perspectives in understanding motivation.
STRATEGIC SCALABLE THINKING
Understanding the broader implications of this research on collegiate sports and mental health required strategic thinking. By focusing on the long-term psychological drivers for athletes, I contributed insights that could support future studies and conversations around athlete well-being and motivation in a changing collegiate sports landscape. Not to mention the potential implications for studying motivation in the world of work.
CUSTOMER / USER IMPACT
My research offered insights into athletes’ experiences and motivations, benefiting coaches, sports psychologists, and academics interested in mental resilience and motivation. Sharing findings with faculty and peers helped influence broader discussions around athlete mental health and motivation, driving awareness of the psychological factors that contribute to athletic performance.
VALUES AND MISSION
My research reflected commitment to understanding and supporting the holistic well-being of college athletes. At Cornell, I aligned with a mission that values both academic rigor and personal development, approaching the research with a focus on respect for athletes’ unique motivations and mental health needs. This experience reinforced my dedication to fostering resilience, well-being, and ethical engagement in any field I contribute to, as I believe understanding intrinsic motivation is essential to creating supportive and sustainable environments.
DEPARTURE
This was a fixed term project, but after establishing the written research, I sent the research to several scientific journals, but the findings being relatively inconclusive led the the article not getting picked up. Despite that the experience of research was well worth the time.