When you ask a student-athlete why they chose Princeton, many give you the same answer: excellence in academics and athletics. The Princeton athletics mission of “Education through Athletics,” gives student-athletes a foundation to secure a job upon graduation and go down a career path they are passionate about. The Daily Princetonian sat down with recent athletics alumni to discuss the transition from Princeton athletics to professional life.
From a national championship to the corporate world
On March 18, 2023, Patrick Glory ’23 won the NCAA Wrestling National Championship in Tulsa, Okla. Glory, who graduated from Princeton with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a certificate in finance, is now a sales and trading analyst at Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.
Glory is on the securitized products sales team where he says he works with an elite group of professionals who are experienced in the field. He started with them over the summer, but did not start working in person in New York City until this month.
“The transition has definitely been difficult,” Glory wrote to The Daily Princetonian. “There’s a lot of similarities between academic life, athletic life, and professional life, but there’s also a lot of differences that have taken some time to adjust to.” He added that he believes he will get more and more comfortable with time.
“I miss all the camaraderie and the social nature of campus, as well as connecting with my friends in class or at the eating club,” Glory said. He noted that he misses late meal and Small World the most.
Throughout the summer, he studied for regulatory exams required to fully start with the company. However, Glory is certain that the job will help him grow as both an employee and a person.
“There are a lot of very smart and sophisticated people that I now get to call my colleagues and I’m looking forward to seeing exactly where my career path takes me.”
Excelling on and off the court
Julia Cunningham ’23 finished an all-time career with the women’s basketball team in March. Team captain her junior and senior year. The 27th member of the 1000-point club for the program. All-Ivy selections in three of her years with the team. Helped lead the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament in her junior and senior year. The list goes on and on for Cunningham.
Now, she is in the process of applying to physician’s assistant (PA) programs. In the meantime, she works as a certified medical assistant at a urology office by her home in New Jersey. She assists doctors with patient needs during visits and even performs small in-office procedures.
Similarly to Glory, she spoke highly of her time at Princeton and called the transition interesting.
“I love Princeton so much, and a lot of my friends that were younger than me are still at school,” Cunningham told the ‘Prince.’ “For me, change is never easy, but I am enjoying my new role. I definitely miss playing basketball and being part of the team … not many experiences in life compare to being on a college sports team.”
The standout captain is hoping to attend many home games for the team in what should be another competitive year for head coach Carla Berube and her team. The plan is for her to start the PA program sometime in the middle of 2024.
“My current role as a medical assistant will give me the opportunity to learn a lot about how an office runs, different procedures, and get lots of hands-on direct patient care experience.”
“Going to work means making a real impact on my students lives”
Claire Donovan ’23 was one of the key players in the women’s field hockey team. She was a regular starter during her senior year and scored a goal in the 2023 NCAA tournament game against Syracuse that ended the Tigers' season last fall.
Today, Donovan is a corps member for Teach for America, teaching fourth grade ELA in western Philadelphia. For Donovan, it has been a transition filled with all sorts of emotions.
“The transition has been a big one, filled with excitement and fear,” Donovan told the ‘Prince.’ “Living alone in a city definitely feels lonelier than Princeton’s campus where we are all in tight quarters and my friends are down the hall.”
However, she has been excited about the level of independence she has and has learned a lot of important skills during her time at Princeton.
She added, “Princeton prepared me to find time for myself amidst a very busy schedule. Being a first-year teacher is very difficult and there is always something to be doing and preparing, but I also know that taking time for myself should be on that list of things to do every day.”
She wanted to be a teacher to have an important role in her students’ lives and help them grow in multiple ways. Donovan described the community she works at as a very underserved community and wants to contribute as much as she can to it.
“I hope to continue serving my students as long as I feel like I am having a positive impact on their education and social emotional development.”
Staying in the sports world
Luke Moriarty ’23 is staying close to athletics finishing four years with the men’s lacrosse team as a long-stick midfielder. He recently accepted a job with the Los Angeles Lakers as a corporate partnerships intern. Moriarty has experience in the field as he interned with 2K, an American video game company known for making NBA games, as a global sports marketing intern in the summer of 2022.
The position entails daily research and innovation on current and future corporate sponsors and partners for the team.
“Everything from activating physical or digital signage, advertising, promotions, and branding,” Moriarty told the ‘Prince.’
“Finding new ways to activate a company in-game is another massive part of the role,” he added. “[I help make] the corporate partners a part of the fan experience at a Lakers game whether it be a half-court shot contest, nominating Armed Forces honorees, or the naming of an arena.”
Similarly to the rest of the athletes interviewed, Moriarty cherishes the memories at Princeton and says that the transition after graduating takes patience: “I miss the community at Princeton the most. There are many different groups of friends and companions that I was used to seeing every day, I miss that.”
Moriarty is aiming to stay within the sports world and grow within the industry.
“I am looking to get my post-graduate career started at a place where I can learn fast and develop various skill sets under a great team,” he said.
Tiger alumni may go down different paths upon graduation, but the skills and relationships developed during their time as Princeton Tigers continue to benefit them long after they’ve retired their jerseys.
Hayk Yengibaryan is an associate editor for the Sports section at the ‘Prince.’
Please send corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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