Stella’s passion for rugby took her from the sunny hills of Orange County, California, to the centre of Wales’ national sport in Cardiff. Standing on the sidelines watching her brother play rugby wasn’t enough for her, she wanted to get involved and instantly fell in love with the sport.
Now, she’s turned her passion for playing into an ambition to work in the industry – travelling more than five thousand miles to study Sports Media at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
" I didn’t expect Wales to have such a profound impact on me – it’s helped shape my ambitions, my confidence, and the way I see my future in the digital media industry.
I’ve been around rugby for most of my life. When I was younger, I watched my brother play for a few years before I decided to give it a try and instantly fell in love with the sport and the community.
I always knew that I would have a lot of love for the sport, but it wasn't until I moved to Wales that I understood just how meaningful rugby can be to a community. In Wales, it’s more than a game. It’s one’s pride, culture, and identity.
Cardiff Clash was the first rugby game that I attended, and I was blown away by the excitement and competitiveness. It felt like the entire city was playing a part.
Another amazing experience was watching Wales play Argentina in the national stadium. Just walking through the streets full of fans in red jerseys, hearing everyone singing and celebrating made me realise how powerful the atmosphere around sport can be.
That experience made me realise that the sports industry has so much more to offer. I didn’t want to just play; I wanted to capture these moments.
Filming, editing and managing social media content are the things that really excite me and studying Sports Media at Cardiff Met has given me so many chances to explore that.
This year, my classmates and I worked on a podcast and YouTube episode about the development of women’s sports. It gave me so much more respect for the industry.
Welsh culture has pushed me creatively and I'm constantly finding new inspirations that are helping me to grow as a student and a future media professional".
Moving abroad wasn’t easy, but moving to Wales has helped me find exactly what I’m passionate about and where I want to build my career".
Stella's experience in Cardiff
Stella moves from California to Wales to study Sports Media and being surrounded by culture she loves has been such an amazing experience
Smoothing the transition
Stella shares her experience on settling in and the support she received from Cardiff Met to help with her transition overseas.
