In the summer of 2024 I had the opportunity to intern with the Chicago Bears Event Operations team. While in Lake Forest, some of my responsibilities included but were not limited to general setup and tear down of Bears assets and signage, hospitality assistance and credential management, vendor and partner activation assistance, parking lot management, and security and fan flow. Training Camp, being an opportunity for many fans to watch their favorite team for free is an event of high demand, which meant at times I would work across distinct departments.
My understanding of myself, my goals, and my view of the world have never been clearer. I now know the work environment that I prefer, how I function as an individual while working on a team, where my career interests lie across the sport industry, and how different the culture is within a professional football organization. I have always been interested in the business behind the NFL, its franchises, and most importantly their impact off the field. Being around such a professional environment and the way fans reacted transformed the way I view the sport industry overall. There is a reason the NFL is one of the most successful leagues in the world and has so many fans across the globe, and now after the time I spent seeing this I can bring that experience with me towards any potential future opportunities in the sport industry.
One of the events that marked this transformation the most was our back to school community day training camp. We were excited to welcome over 20 non-profit community organizations and 15 youth and high school football teams to our first public practice. The groups had the opportunity to watch practice, participate in family-friendly activities, explore a portion of our campus, try food from local food trucks and receive autographs from some of the players. Opening our doors to Chicago and the surrounding areas, this special community day was a way to recognize and celebrate the incredible work these organizations do in their respective communities. It’s an appreciation to the strong partnership we share, working together to make a positive impact.
The back to school fair provided me with an opportunity to help out a variety of communities through sport. One of my personal goals in my career is to represent latinos and help in any way I can, and Chicago being a well known place where latino communities reside was able to provide me with this chance. Looking at the smiles of kids receiving free merchandise, as well as free utensils for a new school year is worth more than anything. Training camp is an event that fans can attend for free, which provides many with the opportunity to see their favorite players on the field even if they cannot afford a ticket for a game. Sports are bigger than competition and athletics, they create memories that can last for a lifetime.
The thought of being part of the staff and working around the facilities of one of the most historic NFL franchises ever seemed surreal to me. I am blessed to have spent this opportunity next to so many other incredibly talented interns, and learning so much from an exceptional group of leaders. I will always remember the advice and guidance during my time with the Bears, as well as the amazing people I met. An environment where one can tell everybody cares about each other was very eye opening towards how a work environment of such pressure can succeed.
Six years ago I was a high school kid in a different country telling my friends how my dream was to work in the NFL one day. Now I can proudly say I have achieved that goal, and I am not planning on stopping just yet. As I begin my senior year at The Ohio State University, I seek to continue growing both professionally and personally, and keep moving forward. By developing strong meaningful bonds with the people surrounding me, I seek to create relationships with people all over the world that will last for a lifetime. With the uncertainty regarding where I will be living in a year, in the meantime I will strive to make every second count.
This experience and the transformation of my perspective has been of tremendous value to me. As I seek to make a name for myself in the NFL and be a part of the process of making American football a more international sport, working in an environment of such caliber was essential. I have a clearer idea of how an NFL team functions from within, and the impact that a simple event such as training camp can have off the field. Sports provide people with an excuse to meet and watch a game, or have a conversation about something as simple as fantasy football even if they are complete strangers, and I believe that is what life is all about. The people, the memories, and the times we hold valuable to ourselves. What do all of these have in common? They can all be found via sports.
