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If you love what you do, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.
That much is true for 2022 Communication graduate Jesse Cinquini, who recently made his career dreams come true, accepting a job as a Boston Celtics writer for Sports Illustrated.
A basketball enthusiast through and through, Cinquini couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to cover his favorite team. “It just doesn't feel like work because it's what I love to do and not a lot of people can say that they do what they love. I feel blessed and lucky for sure.”
Cinquini is no stranger to the sports media world, as the young graduate spent years writing for major sports outlets in his free time, including SB Nation and The Knicks Wall. During his junior year, he covered the Knicks’ historic season as a feature writer. "I loved covering every moment of it, and I'm humbled that a well-respected website such as The Knicks Wall allowed me to cover them," he said.
At Curry, Cinquini gained valuable industry skills that prepared him for this moment, as he thrived in small classes with dedicated and connected faculty. “The professors at Curry really care about their students and their success, and they make an effort to get to know their students on a personal level. Not a lot of other colleges can say that.” In addition to his close connections with faculty, his concentration in multimedia journalism, equipped him with the knowledge and skills to succeed in a competitive market.
Related: Curry now offers sports communication concentration.
Jesse ultimately chose Curry for the robust Communication program, a decision he couldn’t have been happier with. “I heard great things about the communication program, and I know there are plenty of accomplished sports journalists that graduated from here, so I just wanted to follow in their footsteps.” And just under two years after graduation, he’s joined the ranks of hundreds of accomplished alumni in the field, some of whom are working for major corporations such as ESPN, NASA, NBC Sports, and more.
While he spent much of his free time writing, Jesse also enjoyed extracurricular activities at Curry, especially intramural basketball. “Playing intramural basketball really helped me make friends and get more comfortable adjusting to college life.”
His advice for students wanting to pursue a career in sports journalism? Practice makes perfect. “You have to constantly be writing. Just keep at it and as long as you keep writing, you're going to get better, and people are going to recognize your hard work.”