Another summer came and went, and this one was pretty special. No, it didn’t involve a week-long vacation to the beach or anything like that. It didn’t even involve a mini vacation to a big city. This summer, it was me and the Brazos Valley Bombers. As my first ever internship, working for the Bombers created lasting memories not just for the fans, but for ourselves as interns.
Our story began at the Hilton Hotel. There, we were gathered at the hotel awaiting instructions on what to do and where to meet. The experience was almost like the first day of college: we had no idea who each other was, nor did we know what to do. After a short lecture and welcome, we began our internship with the Texas Collegiate League’s (TCL) 3-time championship winning team, all 3 back-to-back-to-back wins. Our season was set to begin on May 27, however Mother Nature pushed our home opener all the way back to June 6, which ended up being a double-header. I’m not gonna lie, the first game was incredibly crazy across all of Nutrabolt Stadium. When the game ended, everyone was exhausted, famished, and a bit dazed from the events that occurred. However, nobody faltered or gave up and we got back to work the next day and delivered a much smoother task execution across all areas.
The work was not just restricted to gamedays. We also appeared at community events to promote Bombers baseball and provide assistance to the full-time staff whenever they needed it at the office and at the stadium. Throughout the year, we made new friendships, shared some pretty awesome experiences, and worked to make sure the Bombers faithful enjoyed their time at Nutrabolt. We even got to travel to Houston to network with employees from the Astros and Dynamo. I had never been to a Dynamo game before, but it was a truly unique experience thanks to the die-hard Dynamo fans. It was pretty neat to see smiles on all the intern’s faces as they chanted along to the Dynamo’s “Forever, We Are Orange” (never thought I would say that coming out of Texas A&M, but it was a catchy tune). As interns, we got to be a part of a 21-game winning streak, a culture of friendship and winning, a field trip that allowed us to bond and have fun, and also got to share in the excitement of winning a 4th straight TCL championship. 9-innings of excitement with a little baseball thrown in never felt more invigorating, especially after getting a chance to pop champagne bottles after a successful season (and from cleaning up the ballpark in the rain for one last time).
In conclusion, I just want to thank several entities for the awesome experience of a lifetime. First and foremost, I thank God for giving me this opportunity at this moment in my life. I had considered the Bombers internship throughout all of undergrad, but never applied. I believe applying at this time was the right choice. It was truly a blessing to get to work with a local baseball team and learn more about myself, how to run a baseball team, and create memories of a lifetime. Second, I want to thank the Bombers front office for allowing me to make great baseball experiences for the Bombers’ fans. I had applied to 7 other internships, who never responded back, but you gave me a chance to thrive. You have no idea what that meant to me to get the nod from y’all and be a part of the Bomber’s brand. Finally, a big shout out to my fellow gameday interns and the full-time interns. We did it! Thank God, we did it! We survived the downpours, blazing heat, odd jobs, and craziness to execute another successful season in Bomberland. There’s no doubt in my mind that all of you will make excellent employees for different sport organizations or wherever you decide to work. From our crazy WhatsApp battles and comments, to our fun times folding up the inflatables and stirring up large ant piles in the heat of the day or cool of the rain, to our hang outs together after games and on breaks, every moment with you guys was a memory made and a friendship strengthened. I hope we can stay in touch and meet again someday, whether at a Bomber’s game, in the workplace, or wherever to recall our days as Bomber’s interns and grow as people. Until then, may God hold you in the palm of his hand, and remember these things: “All We Do is Win,” “One Team, One Dream,” “Make It Happen,” and a new one, “Forever, We Are Bombers.”
