Her Twitter bio reads: CNN Correspondent. Charlie Blackmon Jersey . Bison. California soul. Silicon Valley raised. NYC sharpened. The reference to her alma mater -- Howard University, from which she graduated in 1995 with a degree in broadcast journalism -- is subtle, but it is an integral part of Stephanie Elams personal history.You see, once youre a Bison, which is the universitys mascot and how current students and alumni affectionately refer to one another, youre a Bison for life.As a former Howard swimmer, Elam says it was that sense of unity and competition learned on the team that helped her progressively navigate her professional life. Now, as an accomplished journalist, she credits her college experience with giving her the confidence to truly pursue and tackle her dreams head-on.espnW caught up with Elam, 42, before she headed back to Howard for its famed homecoming festivities to get insight on her post-college life and more.This interview has been edited for length.espnW: How did you feel when you were about to leave college and (essentially) your athletic career? What was going through your mind? Stephanie Elam: I knew my athletic career had a time limit. I was OK with that part. The thing that was scary for me was leaving the comfort of my whole Howard family, and then moving to New York City. I was like ... Oh, wow, this is adulting for real. When I think back to the spring [before graduation], everyone was buzzing around asking Do you have a job? Do you have a job? I remember everyone talking about their job pursuits. And I felt good about having secured a position, but I was also completely aware that Ill never have the undergraduate experience again.?espnW: How did your first couple of years out of college go? What did you do? SE: When I graduated, I took an internship with Dow Jones Newswires in New York City. So initially I wasnt necessarily sure of what the future held, but at the end of the summer, they offered me a full-time job. And living in NYC wasnt something I set out do, it wasnt on the top of my to-do list, thats just where I ended up. However, it was a good way to enter New York City -- and prepped with that sports background -- I knew that if you had challenges ahead, you had to try to conquer them. Youre trained to do that as an athlete. I just had to figure it out.I got promoted every year I was there -- to the point where I knew I wasnt going to get promoted again, as the people in the next tier had been there for a really long time. Some friends from work were interviewing for another company, so I also went out for a position there as well, and ended up taking a job with Bridge News. That was another real test -- do I leave the comfort of a job I already know, or do I branch out and do something new? But, I took that leap of faith, and it was good for me on so many levels. It improved my life financially, and my sense of responsibility. Overall, I think sports teaches you that you can surmount lifes hurdles if you just give it a good try.espnW: Since college, what choices have you made to set you up for where you are now?SE: I majored in broadcast journalism, because I was like, Well, I like to write, and I like people. I do think I was true to myself when I selected my major. And I think thats a huge part of what set me up for future success. Also, networking helped me. Overall, I think as women, we need to learn how to network a bit better. Its useful on many levels. You can even create connections for other people -- help define those synergies. It doesnt have to benefit you directly, but it loops you in, and those organic connections are what makes a difference in the long run.espnW: What was the best piece of advice you received when leaving college? SE: Take risks. You can afford to do that when youre young. You might find something you really love, that you never thought to pursue. I wish I had done that a bit more.espnW: What lessons did you take from being an athlete that have applied to your working life? SE: Youre always on a team in corporate America, so the focus on teamwork is important. In my job, we very much operate as a unit. So, that team-life doesnt go away just because youre not competing athletically. Being an athlete has taught me how to trouble shoot during those difficult moments, and figure it out. Thats something that sports truly teaches you. As you never want to let your teammates down.espnW: Professionally, what was your first failure? And what did it teach you? SE: I wish I had considered sports journalism a bit more seriously. All of the features I created in college were sports-related. But, at the time there werent a lot of high-profile women in sports-related journalism -- and I have three older brothers, so Im very comfortable in a male-dominated setting -- but I still had apprehension. So, its not an actual failure, but its something where I wish I could go back and tell younger Stephanie to go ahead and give it a try.?espnW: Did you have a strategy to keep sports/fitness in your life? SE: No, I actually didnt. Especially because I was a swimmer, and in NYC, that was not ... at all happening. Now that Im living in California, Im married with a child, my husband -- who was also collegiate swimmer, and we made sure our daughter was water-safe really early on. We swim, bike, kayak and do lots of walking as a family.espnW: Whats unique about Howard University thats helped you in your professional life? SE: Theres no place like Howard. And the generational understanding [amongst alumni] is just priceless. ?My sister went to Howard, my brother went to Howard, so HU is almost a member of the family. Howard University helped develop me into the woman I am today. There is just something special about stepping on that campus.espnW: What do you wish you knew before graduating that you know now? SE: That Id never be able to recapture that same feeling [I had at Howard]. You take it for granted when youre a student. How many times in life are you just going to be around such beautiful, smart and like-minded people?Ericka N. Goodman-Hughey is a senior editor at espnW and fellow Howard University alum. Follow her on Twitter @ericka_editor Nolan Arenado Jersey . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. Chris Rusin Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.rockiesgearproshop.com/Rockie...ta-Kids-Jersey/ . Aduriz headed home Markel Susaetas cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mames Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. HOUSTON -- Tampa Bay rookie Blake Snell struggled to throw strikes in his last three outings, piling up 13 walks over that span.He didnt walk a batter Saturday night, but not much else went right for the 23-year-old in a 6-2 loss to the Houston Astros.Snell allowed a season-high nine hits and five runs -- four earned -- in three-plus innings for his third loss in four starts. He exited with a bruise on his lower left leg after being hit by a sharp grounder from Marwin Gonzalez to start the fourth.The performance ended his streak of nine straight starts of allowing two earned runs or fewer. The streak was a franchise record for a rookie.I was thinking differently than what they were thinking, Snell said. I felt like they were in attack mode, swing mode, so I guess I should have been throwing more pitches out of the zone.Carlos Correa and Evan Gattis hit consecutive doubles with no outs in the second to give Houston a 1-0 lead. A third straight double, this one by Yulieski Gurriel, made it 2-0.Alex Bregman connected off Snell (4-7) for a two-run homer in the third inning to make it 4-0. It was Bregmans fifth homer.Blake obviously had a tough time, manager Kevin Cash said. He got there a different way; probably more hard-hit today than wed seen in the past ... threw the ball over the plate, but thats where the execution of making quality pitches is so important.Starter Dallas Keuchel (9-12) allowed nine hits and two runs for his first career victory over the Rays. He entered 0-4 in six starts against them.Gurriel had two doubles for Houston and collected the first two RBI of his career. It was the fifth game for Gurriel, who played in Cuba for 15 seasons before signing with the Astros in July.Bobby Wilson hhit a two-run homer in the fifth inning for the Rays, and Tim Beckham had three hits. Colorado Rockies Jerseys. .George Springer singled to start Houstons third and scored on Bregmans homer.Bregmans single in the fourth inning pushed the lead to 5-0.Corey Dickerson singled with no outs in the fifth before Wilsons home run, which smashed off the wall above the seats in left field and cut the lead to 5-2.The Rays didnt take advantage of a scoring opportunity in the sixth. Beckham singled with one out but was caught in a rundown when he tried to go to third on a single by Mikie Mahtook. Keuchel then struck out Steven Souza Jr. to end the threat.It was the second straight game in which the Rays had a key baserunning error.Its definitely showing up too much, and ultimately thats on me, Cash said. We have to find a way to impact these guys better so that we are not making those mistakes.Gurriels second RBI double made it 6-2 in the seventh inning.TRAINERS ROOMRays: RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) allowed five hits and one run in four innings for Triple-A Durham in his eighth rehabilitation start on Saturday night. Cobbs last start in the majors came on Sept. 28, 2014.UP NEXTRays: Chris Archer (7-17, 4.11) starts for Tampa Bay on Sunday. Hes 3-2 with a 1.31 ERA in six career starts against the Astros. Two of the three complete games in his career have come against Houston, including a one-hitter at Minute Maid Park last year.Astros: Doug Fister (12-8, 3.59) will start the series finale for Houston. Fister allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings in his last start, a 3-1 win over Pittsburgh. 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