Matt Hammond

After four years on the Florida State University swim team, Matt Hammond knows about discipline and time management. He also knows what it takes to beat out the competition.

Hammond competed with the 2007 swim team that won FSU’s first Atlantic Coast Conference championship. Now that he’s back at FSU to pursue an MBA, Hammond is bringing some of the discipline he learned as an athlete into the classroom.

“Swimming has taught me the value of hard work. I understand doing endless amounts of practice is all worth the end result,” Hammond said.

Now, swim team practice has given way to intense coursework, rigorous group projects and a graduate assistant position with the FSU College of Business internship director. Hammond sees the importance of balancing his responsibilities and budgeting his time: “My undergrad years were completely scheduled and I had little time to procrastinate.”

“This is my way to stand out above everybody else,” Hammond said of his decision to pursue an MBA at FSU. He sees an MBA as a marketing tool, a way to position himself above the competition.

“With the economy the way it is, you can use all the help you can get right now,” Hammond said.