When Jordan Schubert first picked up a basketball as a child within the Chicago space, he had no thought how far that first dribble would take him. Launched to Particular Olympics in fifth grade, his mother signed him up for basketball “as one thing to do within the fall.” What adopted was a lifelong journey outlined by sport, confidence, management, and finally, a job provide.
“I didn’t actually know what I used to be entering into on the time,” Schubert mentioned. “However from sixth grade on, I’ve cherished each second of it.”
His ardour for basketball grew, and whereas he additionally tried bowling, soccer, flooring hockey, and softball, the hardwood remained his dwelling with considered one of his most cherished recollections occurring when he gained his first gold medal on his mom’s birthday.
Youth Empowered, Leaders Impressed: Jordan Schubert
Jordan started taking part in basketball with Particular Olympics within the fifth grade. This small motion finally grew to become a daily a part of his life and finally developed right into a ardour he pursued.
Particular Olympics helped Schubert develop far past athletics. “It helped me academically,” he mentioned. “I acquired higher grades and made extra pals.”
Schubert’s management journey took off in highschool, when he was chosen to attend the 2010 USA Video games Nationwide Youth Summit. That chance led him to champion Unified Champion Colleges initiatives in Illinois, and later, as a member of the Nationwide Youth Activation Committee after transferring to Pennsylvania.
From there, Schubert’s relationship with Particular Olympics deepened. In 2013, he interned on the group’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., working with the Consumer Expertise (UX) staff and supporting departments throughout the workplace. “Every time I acquired my very own work accomplished early, I’d assist different departments wherever they wanted,” he mentioned.
That very same summer season, at a workers convention in Charlotte, Schubert met the President & CEO of Particular Olympics Pennsylvania and discovered about an upcoming job opening. “I utilized as quickly as my internship ended and acquired it a few months later,” he mentioned.
He began part-time throughout school because the Athlete Management Coordinator, primarily supporting the division’s each day operations. However simply two months in, a workers transition pushed Schubert to tackle extra accountability. Balancing a full educational course load along with his job helped him sharpen key skilled expertise, prioritization, delegation, independence.
After commencement, Schubert was promoted to full-time. A yr later, he took on an expanded position as Supervisor of Athlete Management and Younger Athletes. “Younger Athletes was such a significant addition,” Schubert mentioned. “I want that had been round after I was youthful, I might’ve began Particular Olympics a lot earlier.”
In the present day, Schubert’s work facilities on creating and supporting athlete leaders throughout Pennsylvania. He helps people set objectives, plan speeches and appearances, and join with regional workers. He additionally leads statewide trainings and lately helped launch a recognition program to rejoice athletes going above and past.
By way of all of it, he continues to use classes discovered on the courtroom. “Quite a lot of ideas I’ve discovered from sports activities, teamwork, resilience, reflection. I attempt to apply these to my job,” he mentioned. “Be a staff participant. Keep regular. All the time try to enhance.”
Schubert nonetheless competes, too. He performed basketball on the 2022 USA Video games in Orlando. That have, popping out of the pandemic, solely deepened his appreciation for the mission. “It made me worth what I do and what others achieve this far more,” he mentioned.
For Schubert, working at Particular Olympics is about greater than a paycheck.
“I feel the most important factor I’m happy with is the relationships I’ve constructed with athletes, volunteers, colleagues. Folks know I’ll hear, and I do know they’ll hearken to me. Which means quite a bit.”
Jordan Schubert
He additionally believes firmly that hiring athletes will not be about checking a field. “If different sports activities organizations worth individuals with lived expertise, why shouldn’t we?” he mentioned. “Athletes deliver perception that makes every thing higher. We don’t have all of the solutions, however inclusive collaboration is how we construct a greater future.”
“Inclusion to me means one,” he added. “It doesn’t matter what phrase you employ—unified, inclusive—it’s about seeing one another as one.”
