Editor’s Note: As Commencement approaches, we are featuring some of our Neag School Class of 2020 graduating seniors over the coming days. Boker also appeared in UConn Today’s feature about graduating seniors.

Major: Sport Management
Minor: Psychological Sciences

Extracurriculars:
Field hockey representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee; member International Sub Committee Executive Board Member; volunteer, Husky Sport. 

Hometown: Bremen, Germany

What do you aspire to be? I aspire to be the best version of myself and be a continuous learner throughout life. I want to positively impact others and inspire them to be become their best version, too. In terms of my career, I still don’t know what I aspire to be. However, there are a lot of interesting and diverse jobs within the sport management industry. I guess I will just see where the journey takes me and what opportunities open up along the way.

Who is your favorite professor? I can’t say I only have one favorite professor because there are many great professors at UConn. I really enjoyed taking public speaking with Rory McGloin, although I don’t like public speaking at all. However, he made lectures fun, and it was easy to listen to him because he is a phenomenal public speaker. Within the Sport Management program, my favorite professors were Joseph Cooper and Justin Evanovich. Their classes were really interesting, and I enjoyed their style of teaching.

“I aspire to be the best version of myself and be a continuous learner throughout life, and I want to positively impact others and inspire them to be become their best version, too.”

What did you accomplish that you’re most proud of? Winning the 2017 national championship in field hockey definitely made me proud. It just made me realize that all the hard work that I have put into the sport that I love finally paid off. Winning it with your best friends makes it even more special. I am also proud of the person I have become. Being far away from home wasn’t always easy, but it also helped me to develop and mature tremendously during my four years here at UConn.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? After graduation, I will be going to grad school at Durham University in England. I will pursue my master’s degree in management, while also playing for the field hockey team of the university. 

How has UConn prepared you for your future career? UConn has prepared me for my future by providing me with knowledgeable and exceptional professors that taught me in various different fields and classes. Education builds the foundation for my future career, and I am really thankful that UConn has given me this opportunity. Moreover, UConn has offered lots of networking opportunities and other events that prepared me for the future and allowed me to build a network with peers, staff, and possible future employers.

What advice would you give to a student who is just starting out? ENJOY EVERY SINGLE MOMENT! Four years might seem like a long time, but it goes by way quicker than you think. Just know with the coronavirus, it might have been my last ever college class with my best friends without me even realizing it. You just don’t know what happens, so you have to embrace the now. Use every opportunity to make new friends and get to know the people around you. Go on adventures with your friends, eat together, go out and have fun. Try to complain less about schoolwork and enjoy learning. Go to panels, speeches, and other events, even if you don’t want to. There is always something you can take away from it. Just be yourself and make friends for life!