From Orientation to Vocation 

When Hayden Thorpe showed up for orientation at Edinboro University as a sport management student, he had no idea a casual job fair would shape his entire career path. Now serving as the Assistant Director of Campus Recreation on the Clarion campus, Hayden's journey exemplifies how campus involvement can transform into a lifelong passion at PennWest.

"My orientation weekend, I was on campus, you know, just kind of going through the day. And the previous director of Campus Rec was there advertising jobs," Hayden recalls. "I knew that I was a sport management student, and that was about all I knew at that point. I didn't really know what I wanted to do with that degree."

Taking a chance, Hayden applied to be an intramural official – a role that became the foundation for his career. "You have to love it or you hate it. And I'm lucky that I'm one of the ones who loved it," he says about officiating.

What makes PennWest's recreation programs special is their ability to transform students' lives through experiences they might never have considered. For Hayden, this included skydiving – despite a lifelong fear of heights. "I am absolutely petrified of heights. I always have been. I think I always will be," Hayden admits. "Skydiving was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had in my entire life."

Today, Hayden pays forward the opportunities he received by creating spaces where PennWest students can safely explore their own boundaries. "Just get outside of your comfort zone... You don't know if you're going to enjoy something unless you try it," he advises. His story demonstrates how PennWest doesn't just educate students – it helps them discover passions and career paths they never knew were possible.

 

Listen to Hayden's story on the Power of PennWest Podcast