Big Red Interview: Chelsea Gross

  

Big Red: What is your major/year are you at Monmouth College?
Chelsea Gross: Physical Education- Non-teaching. I am a senior at Monmouth College

Big Red: What is your summer internship?

Chelsea Gross: I worked for the Peoria Chiefs Minor League Baseball Team

Big Red: How did you learn about this internship?

Chelsea Gross: I knew about other classmates who did their internships for other minor league teams, and I remember going to the Peoria Chiefs games when I was younger and really liked the environment and Peoria so I thought I would give it a shot.

Big Red: Why did you take this internship?

Chelsea Gross: I thought it was a great opportunity and my trainer Bob Foster said it would be very beneficial to me and thought it would be a great experience. I knew this would be a great start to get familiar with what my future occupation may entail.

Big Red: Your primary job duties/responsibilities are?

Chelsea Gross: My job is to mainly promote the Chiefs throughout the Peoria and surrounding communities throughout the week. I also am very involved with the crowd during the games, such as doing baseball chants to get the crowd excited, throwing T-shirts, and doing on-field games during the innings to keep the crowd entertained. Each game has different events that happen at the ballpark and it is one of my responsibilities to make sure everything is set up right and then is executed as planned. It is very busy most of the time because there are so many events that take place during each game that need to be ran smoothly while keeping the crowd happy and entertained.

Big Red: What is the best part of your internship?

Chelsea Gross: Everything. This internship had no negative aspects. I would have to say our “team” had a lot of fun during the games while entertaining the crowd and cheering on our team.

Big Red: What is the most challenging part of your internship?

Chelsea Gross: Definitely getting everything set up on time and having everyone on the same page. We have so many exciting things that happen almost every inning and there are about five to six of us on field who need to all communicate and execute together in order to make sure things run right. I do not think that everyone knows how much we do behind the scenes to make sure the crowd is happy and also representing the Chiefs positively.

Big Red: What is one thing your team/teammates/coaches at Monmouth College taught you that helped you with your internship?

Chelsea Gross: Teamwork, hard work, and respect. You are constantly working with many different people with different opinions on different levels. I work with the owner of the Peoria Chiefs, my boss, and many co-workers who are all working together to keep the Chiefs honorable reputation. Being a part of a team has also taught me how to be a hard worker and to give 100%. It takes a lot of hard work to be involved with a minor league Class A baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. We are trying to promote a positive background for the Chiefs to continue our connection with the Chicago Cubs. There are many games in a row each week that I am constantly working endless hours with a large amount of people while also having to report back to my boss and then the owner is not always the easiest task to do. By being a member of the Monmouth College basketball team I have learned how to respect others. I have a head coach, and many assistant coaches as well as my teammates and opposing members. Being respectful is something you are taught when you are a member of the Monmouth College Women’s basketball team no matter how tough it gets. We are a team and how we act comes back on the coaches, our team, and our college. It is the same with a job, I am on a team and I have to show respect towards my co-workers, my boss, and the Chiefs in order to work in a constructive environment which makes it easier to get work done and to keep a positive reputation for the community.

Big Red: What's one thing you've learned that you are taking back to your team/teammates/coaches at Monmouth College?
Chelsea Gross: To be a good and constructive leader. I am a senior now and after working for the Chiefs this summer I have developed better leadership skills that I plan to carry out through my last season as a member of the Monmouth College Women’s Basketball team.

Big Red: How is this internship going to prepare you for your future?

Chelsea Gross: It will help me get a taste of what my future occupation is going to entail. What skills I need to work on and others that I need to keep working hard at. It has also helped to show me what I really am interested in doing and other things that are not down my path. This internship has been a very important learning experience for me that I will use down the road to help me develop into a successful individual in the work force.