For student-athletes, the path to college recruitment or professional sports can feel overwhelming. Yves Agbodoh ,a junior at Pennsylvania Western University, California, is helping to change that. As an intern at Mid Atlantic Sports Consultants, Yves isn’t just observing the process; he’s helped actively shape future.
A collegiate soccer player himself, Yves brings firsthand experience to his dual role, guiding high school athletes through the recruiting process while also assisting aspiring professionals on their journeys. His work goes beyond paperwork and emails; it’s about mentorship, strategy and creating opportunities that last a lifetime.
His internship via The Washington Center enables Yves to develop professional and technical skills that will power his resume and future job success. From crafting standout highlight reels to building crucial connections between athletes and coaches, Yves is proving that hard work and the right guidance can turn potential into success. Let’s dive into his internship experience and the project that meant the most to him.
Tell us about your internship and a project that stood out.
My internship had two key focuses. At Mid Atlantic Sports Consultants (an organization run by TWC alumni) my colleagues and I were assigned high school athletes who we helped navigate college recruitment by introducing them to collegiate soccer coaches nationwide. We mentored them through professional communication and decision-making for their athletic and academic futures. The second focus on my internship was Trident Sports, where we worked with aspiring pro athletes and coaches, connecting them with clubs and representing them as agents. This was an important component of my internship experience in July because of the massive influx of new players that needed our agencies’ services.
My favorite project was creating a highlight video for one of my clients at Mid Atlantic Sports Consultants. As a college soccer player myself, I loved collaborating with him to produce his first-ever recruitment reel – finally kickstarting his journey to playing at the next level. It was incredibly rewarding to use my own experience to help him take that crucial first step.
What are some of the specific skills and networking opportunities you've gained?
It has to be professional communications. We ran a clinic attended by many top-level university soccer programs. I had many conversations with coaches and their experiences coaching at the top level of college soccer. This networking opportunity taught me the skill of effective communication within a professional environment. How to converse formally with people in high regard.
What were things that you were concerned about when applying for the program?
I was worried about driving in D.C. and commuting everywhere. I’ve heard all the stigmas and stereotypes about D.C. driving, the traffic, accidents, the cameras everywhere, etc. Since I was bringing my car, I was kind of paranoid about how commuting would be. While it hasn’t been the best experience and traffic sometimes can be brutal, I can’t say that my experience was the worst. I have learned to be a better driver here!
What was your most exciting experience while at TWC?
Without a single doubt, making connections within the soccer community in the DMV area is great. The community and love for the game is unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life outside of my family’s home country Togo in West Africa. For starters, soccer is so popular, there’s a lot of access to fields around the area, pick-up groups, as well as bars and pubs that are always showing professional matches. Secondly, I have been part of this amazing training group in Maryland that brings together top-level collegiate athletes and pros in the DMV area and have been improving my game exponentially to prepare for my fall college season. Growing my love for the game has easily been the best part of my experience.
If you received a scholarship, how did it help you?
I was able to receive the Rutledge Foundation Scholarship that helped ease financial stress during my time in D.C. so I could divert my full attention to my internship and not have to worry about paying for my housing and living expenses. I am very grateful for Pennsylvania Western’s assistance.
About the Author
Follow on Twitter Visit Website More Content by The Washington Center
