Combining my love of people and events

Why did you choose to study hospitality?

I’m a people’s person and I really like to help others. Basically for me, I’m happy when I see other people happy! So when it came time to decide on what to study, I thought, “I like the process of planning and executing events" and decided to combine my love of events and people.

 

What made you decide on Swiss Hotel Management School?

It's not every day that one gets the opportunity to study in such a historical palace. For me, hospitality needs to be more rooted in practice than in theory, which is precisely what SHMS offers through classes in service, food & beverage, housekeeping, and the organizing real-life events.  

 

Tell us about your internship experience. 

I did my first internship as a restaurant supervisor on campus in Leysin. I got to work in the bar, in service, at the buffet, and sometimes in the fine dining restaurant. It was a challenging experience because I had to learn how to communicate well with students from other cultures. It was a really enriching internship opportunity.  

 

What are some of your favorite classes?

My favorite classes are definitely event operations and event management. I learned about how to work with people and how to communicate with your team properly. We also had the opportunity to throw a real banquet for Halloween. This class taught us that maybe working with other people is not as easy as we think. We also learned about food & beverage, salaries, and absolutely everything that it takes to run a good event.  

 

What do you do in your free time?

This year I joined the Student Ambassador Forum where I have the role of operations ambassador. This means I oversee everything from food to student accommodations and in general student life. I’m also a wine and bar and interior design tutor for the bachelor’s students on campus. I also enjoy all the masterclasses SHMS offers, such as the cocktail and mixology masterclasses. 

 

What have you learned from being a member of the Student Ambassador Forum?

I’ve learned that there is always room for improvement. Even when we think we have completed a task, there is always something we can improve by working hand-in-hand with all the students and the operations staff. You can seek better ways of doing things, even when it might not always be an easy solution, which has challenged me and helped me to improve my creative skills.   

 

What does the future hold for you? 

In the long-term, I would like to work in the events industry, maybe even create an event company in Latin America back in Nicaragua or Costa Rica. I just want to enjoy everything event management has to offer!