Fernando, an international student from Spain, has always had a passion for basketball. He decided to transfer to the US for his degree, where he could fully immerse himself in America’s thriving sports culture at both the college and professional levels. Today, he is enrolled in his first year in the Master’s in Sport and Athletic Administration (MASAA) program at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. After he earns his degree, he plans to pursue a sports-focused business career.
Read on to learn more about Fernando’s experiences as an international student in the US, what student life is like at Gonzaga Global (Shorelight and Gonzaga’s first-year program for international students), how the US sports culture compares to Spain’s, and his burgeoning plans for the future.
If you’re curious about sports careers (and if you’re wondering ‘what is sports management?’), his experiences may offer good insights into this field.
From Spain to Spokane
Despite football being a huge part of Spain’s national identity, Fernando grew up playing basketball instead, which he says is also very popular back home. Though he is still very much a football fan, basketball is still number one in his heart: He played all the way through high school and even was a basketball coach for more than five years in Spain. As such a huge fan of the game, Fernando said he always dreamed of coming to the US, where basketball originated and continues to have the highest professional level of play in the world.
After Fernando completed his undergraduate degree in business in Spain, he wanted to focus his career on sports, so he chose to start a MASAA degree in the US, which he felt was the best choice to qualify for a career in sports administration. Fernando’s main criteria for choosing a university was that it should have a strong basketball program where he could get professional experience while still enrolled.
Based on his preferences, “Gonzaga was the best option for me,” he said.
Gonzaga University has a rich basketball history, spanning more than a century. Their men’s basketball team, the Gonzaga Bulldogs, is one of the top college basketball teams in the country. The Bulldogs, also called the Zags by fans, have the most championship wins in the history of the annual West Coast Conference (WCC) men’s basketball tournament, and have made it to the NCAA national championships twice. Gonzaga’s women’s team has had nine NCAA Tournament appearances, including four Sweet 16 games and one Elite Eight game.
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International Student Life at Gonzaga
In comparing his time at Gonzaga to studying for his undergraduate degree in Spain, Fernando said, “I see a complete difference: Here, it is more practical.” Where in Spain he would primarily be preparing for exams, Fernando said that professors and programs at Gonzaga have students undertake more practical work instead, which he credits as his preferred learning style.
He also mentioned he’s had far more networking opportunities at Gonzaga, not just with fellow students or professors, but also with members of the college basketball program, which he knows will be helpful for a future career in sports administration. Fernando has been proactively reaching out to people through all available channels, such as with social media platforms like LinkedIn, even before coming to the US.
“Prior to coming here, I had a contact on the basketball team who has been helping me get into it and learn as much as I can from the program,” he said. As a part of a case study, Fernando was also able to attend a conference in Las Vegas where he connected with representatives from different universities across the US.
Through the Gonzaga MASAA program, Fernando is also able to study abroad (technically, back home!) in Barcelona. He plans to spend the summer taking classes there and, ideally, working at an internship with Spain’s major basketball companies, such as FC Barcelona or Joventut.
How the Study Abroad Experience Is Different from Home
Different Sports Cultures
While exploring every opportunity available to him with basketball in both Spain and the US, Fernando noticed some major differences in how sports organizations operate. He saw college basketball in the US as more professional than back in Spain, saying, “some of my friends from class, they are working for the team, on staff, media, or broadcasting. That’s a great opportunity for students and means a lot of people are caring about and working for the program.”
Fernando also compared college basketball in the US to professional first division basketball in Spain. He also noticed the environment during matches as being more energetic in the US, with crowds on their feet, cheering the entire time, getting so excited that they wouldn’t be able to watch the match sitting down. In contrast, in Spain, though there are many dedicated and enthusiastic fans of teams like those he supported back in his city, the energy was a lot calmer.
Different Weather
As someone from the more temperate parts of Spain, Fernando found the Pacific Northwest weather to be a bit of an adjustment when adapting to college life. Though it gets cold in Spain, especially in the northern region, the weather in Spokane was colder than what he was used to.
Fernando does feel a bit homesick sometimes, but living in the US had always been his dream and he is optimistic for the future, with plans to use OPT to stay in the country for an additional year and work in sports.
Fernando’s Advice for Future International Students
Fernando encourages students to step out of their comfort zones when studying abroad, while acknowledging that there may be challenges along the way. He says if you’re seeking a new experience, then studying in the US is an opportunity worth taking.
“Studying in the US will give you a lot of knowledge, a lot of friends, and you will be able to make the first step of your future career,” he said.
Fernando’s journey from Spain to Gonzaga University highlights his dedication to basketball and pursuit of a career in sports. His experiences as an international student have helped him grow both academically and personally, exposing him to new opportunities, challenges, and professional connections.
Explore how Gonzaga University can help you achieve your own dreams, just like Fernando, and find success in your chosen academic and professional career.
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