Intern of the Week

Name: Le'Sheala Dawson
School: Pepperdine University graduate school (Robert Morris University '07)
Year: Second year
Age: 23
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Undergrad Major: Sport management
Grad Major: Human resource management
Internship: Five-Star Basketball, basketball operations intern
Paid/Unpaid: Paid
School credit: No
Hours: 8 a.m. -- 12 a.m.
Duration: June 14 - August 28

A former basketball and volleyball player at Robert Morris University, Le'Sheala Dawson is applying what she's learned in the gym and classroom to her internship with Five-Star Basketball, an organization that hosts high school basketball camps up and down the East Coast. Dawson talks about being a woman in a man's world, meeting NBA players and dealing with language barriers and dentures.

As a basketball operations intern, what do you do?
I do almost everything basketball related -- a little bit of coaching, refing and administrative stuff.

How did you get the job?
I went to school at Robert Morris and that is where it is based. I applied the summer going into my senior year. My assistant coach was a coach there and he was telling me it was a good idea for me to do it.

Did you have any previous experience in the field?
I helped out at the girls camps at RMU and then I ran the camps for the men's team, too. And then also, in San Diego, at Alliant (AIU), I helped out with basketball tournaments whenever I was home.

How long have you been playing basketball?
For about 18 years.

Why is it so important to you?
When my brother and I were younger it was like our escape. Our mom worked late so we went to the YMCA every day after school. Then we joined AAU basketball. It was something we needed since we didn't have a father. Growing up it has been a big part of my life and now I get to help kids. I can help give them advice on things that I was never told about -- like go take the SATs early. I want to be an example. I'm an African America woman. I didn't come from much, but I'm getting my degrees and doing something I love. If you work for it, you can get it.

Why did you pick this job?
Because I can be in the gym all day, which I love, and build relationships. It's fun and it gives me satisfaction to be around basketball and the people I like. Eventually I want to do my own camps for girls and this way I get to see the ins and outs and see what to do and what not to do.

What was your first day like?
It was so hectic. I was terrified. I had one of those bosses that never told me how to do anything. A "solve your own problems" type of boss. He just throws you in a situation and just sits there and watches. And, I was one of the only women. I had to learn the administrative stuff and pick it up quickly. I had to learn how to take orders from people and follow instructions. But after that, the next day was pretty easy.

What do you do on most days?
I referee in the morning and do administrative things in the afternoon and go back to the office, and then I assist coaches with skill stations and then ref or coach games at night.