Before beginning my new chapter as an Assistant Teaching Professor and Undergraduate Program Director in the Department of Religious Studies at the Green School, I wanted to do something completely different for the summer. I spend so much of my time teaching, grading papers, and preparing classes that I thought it would be fun to step outside of my normal routine and experience something new.
I applied to a company that staffs major sporting events, and through that company, I was assigned to work at the FIFA World Cup. I honestly thought I was just going to work the event, experience the excitement of the fans, and then go home. Little did I know that my academic background, my passion for understanding cultures, and my language skills would become one of the most valuable parts of the experience.
When I arrived, I was assigned as a VIP Captain for one of the hospitality lounges. I was excited because I wasn’t expecting to have a leadership role, and I was looking forward to meeting people from different backgrounds. I thought my responsibility would simply be to help lead my team and make sure our guests had a great experience.
Very quickly, though, I noticed something else.
During our meetings, many of the employees had difficulty understanding the supervisors because the meetings were conducted in English, and several members of the staff primarily spoke Spanish. Knowing that I could help, I approached one of the supervisors and let them know that if they ever needed someone to bridge the communication gap, I would be happy to do it. From that moment on, I became the interpreter for many of our meetings. I interpreted between English and Spanish, so everyone clearly understood the instructions, expectations, and updates throughout the day. It was amazing to watch how communication immediately improved once everyone understood what was being said.
Everything I had learned at FIU—and everything I teach my students about communication, culture, and understanding people from different backgrounds—was happening right in front of me. I wasn’t just using my language skills. I was helping people connect, work together, and feel confident in what they were doing. It reminded me that education doesn’t stay inside the classroom. Sometimes, it prepares us for moments we never expect.
One of the first matches I had the opportunity to work was Brazil versus Scotland. Walking into Hard Rock Stadium and seeing thousands of fans proudly wearing their country’s colors was incredible. The energy throughout the stadium was contagious, and everywhere I looked I heard different languages and saw people from different cultures united by one shared passion.
Then I learned that I would also be working in the Colombia versus Portugal match. As a proud Colombian, that assignment meant a great deal to me.
Our lounge was close enough to the stadium that my team and I could hear the Colombian national anthem before kickoff. We all stopped what we were doing and sang it together.
It was one of the most memorable moments of the entire experience. Standing there, wearing my credential, representing my team, and singing the anthem of the country where I was born is a memory I will always cherish.
Working in the VIP lounge also gave me the opportunity to meet and serve some incredible people. I had the chance to see David Beckham, Brazilian soccer legend Roberto Carlos, diplomats, international executives, soccer players, VIP guests, and even a representative connected to NATO from Brazil.
Of course, meeting well-known people was exciting, but that wasn’t what stayed with me the most.
What stayed with me was watching people from different cultures, different countries, and different backgrounds come together. It reminded me why I love teaching in the Department of Religious Studies. Every semester I encourage my students to appreciate cultures that are different from their own, to ask questions, to listen, and to understand people before making assumptions. This summer, I wasn’t just teaching those ideas. I was living them.
Looking back, I truly appreciate the education that Florida International University has given me. FIU prepared me to communicate across cultures, to lead with empathy, and to understand that language is about much more than words. It is about creating connections and building bridges between people.
As I write this, I am getting ready for another exciting day at the stadium for the Norway versus England match. I’m looking forward to another opportunity to meet people from around the world, experience the incredible atmosphere of the World Cup once again, and, if I’m lucky, maybe even have the opportunity to see Erling Haaland in person.
When I accepted what I thought would simply be a fun summer job, I never imagined it would become one of the most meaningful experiences of my career. I thought I was just going to work a soccer event. Instead, I found myself leading a team, interpreting between languages, connecting people through communication, and realizing that everything I had learned—and everything I strive to teach my students—has a place far beyond the classroom.
Sometimes, the greatest lessons don’t happen inside four walls.
Sometimes, they happen on the world’s biggest stage.