Georgia Southern graduate finds purpose within campus recreation and intramurals

January 6, 2020

The moment journalism and Spanish double major Joiya Reid stepped foot on Georgia Southern University’s Statesboro Campus, she instantly connected with her family’s alma mater and discovered a calling to help others through recreation sports.

“Georgia Southern was the only university that I toured when I was in high school,” said Reid. “My stepdad is an alumnus who only had good things to say about the university. And when I toured, I fell in love with how small the community was and how everything was so easy to access.”

During her freshman year, she explored Campus Recreation and Intramurals (CRI) Southern Adventures Challenge Course program, designed to allow on and off-campus organizations the opportunity to develop functional skills that aid in their leadership development through adventure programming.

“I fell in love with it,” she said. “I remember looking at the person doing the challenge course and thinking I wanted to be one of those people.” 

Reid eventually joined the CRI Challenge Course staff and thrived assisting individuals and groups meet their personal growth through challenge courses.

“In my time working with CRI and Southern Adventures I developed a passion for being able to help people and work with different groups while helping others realize their goals,” Reid said.

Leaving the family environment of the Grube Recreation Activity Center (RAC) was bittersweet for Reid.

“From the moment I stepped on campus, the RAC is the one place that felt like home,” said Reid. “It’s a part of my entire college experience because of the people I met here. It’ll always have a lasting impression on me because it helped me to grow as a person.”

In the future, Reid wants to do more with recreation. She hopes to work with camps and businesses who want to do retreats as a means to team building.

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 26,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.