Salma Kattan
Communication student
Passion, purpose and a new way to play life.
Salma Kattan was told that her greatest passion was not for her, that it was not a girl thing. Those comments did not discourage her. In love with the world's most popular sport, soccer, in her first year in the Communication major she began working as a radio journalist and did sports coverage for the newspaper Opinión. That opened the doors to a traditionally masculine field. Today she is in charge of communication for the professional division team Universitario de Vinto and is a partner in one of the most well-known coffee sales brands in the country. Salma is an example of resilience and perseverance.
How did your history with soccer start, what did it mean to you as a child, and what place does it occupy in your life today?
My history with soccer started at a very young age, almost without my realizing it. It was that time of day when everything made sense: recess playing with my friends, weekends dreaming of soccer shirts I saw on the street, or simply dreaming of being inside a big pitch someday. As a child, soccer was my refuge and my way of expressing myself without speaking. Today, although I no longer play it the same way, it remains the center of my life. Everything I do: my work, my projects, even my studies, has a connection to soccer. It is a passion that accompanies me, challenges me and gives me purpose.
You once said that your “dreams were kicked out of you”, what did you learn from that moment and how did it help you rebuild your path?
Yes, it was a phrase that came from pain, but over time I understood it from resilience. When an injury or a situation takes away something you love, you feel like you are left directionless. But that blow taught me to rebuild myself, not to define myself only by what I did, but by what soccer had left me as a person. I learned that dreams can be transformed, that I could remain linked to what I love, even if from another place. That stage helped me discover new ways of living my passion, and from there everything I do today was born.
At what point did you discover that sports journalism could be a way to remain linked to soccer, but from another place?
I discovered it when I started to really want to voice my opinion on what I was seeing: the players, the matches, the decisions on and off the field. In my house almost no one watches soccer, so I felt that need to talk to someone, to share what I thought. And that's when I realized that I could turn that into something bigger: telling stories, analyzing, debating, connecting with others through that same passion. Sports journalism became that band-aid on my heart that I was missing.
At your young age you already work in the marketing area of FC Universitario and you are a partner in a coffee shop, what did starting a business and taking on such big responsibilities while studying teach you?
It taught me that dreams are built by working, not just dreaming. Taking on big responsibilities while young constantly tests you: you learn to organize yourself, to fail, to get back up, to trust your ideas and, above all, to prioritize; you leave many things aside, trusting that everything will return. Entrepreneurship made me value every small achievement and understand that opportunities do not come on their own; you have to look for them, even when it is scary. Sometimes I feel tired, but also proud to see that everything I do makes sense and makes me grow.
The Communication major offers many doors, how do you feel that the education at UPB is helping you turn your passions into real opportunities?
UPB has given me much more than classes; it gave me vision and guidance. Something I value greatly is the support of my teachers: they were always willing to guide me, give me advice and even more personalized classes when I needed it. Thanks to them, I was able to take advantage of more opportunities, grow my projects and connect what I learn with what I love. I feel that the university drives me to transform my ideas into something concrete, to believe in my abilities and to professionalize my passions.
In sports, as in life, there are falls, injuries and restarts, what would you say today to young women who feel that their dreams were stopped by an unexpected blow?
I would tell them to allow themselves to feel, that there is nothing wrong with stopping and crying if they need to. But never think that everything is over. Sometimes blows only change your path, not your destination. Dreams can be put back together, reinvented and even improved. Every fall leaves a lesson, and that strength shows later when you stand up again. The important thing is not to stop believing in yourself.
Between soccer, university, work and entrepreneurship, how do you find balance and motivation to keep growing?
Balance is relative, it does not always exist as such. But I do try to keep the focus on why I do what I do. It motivates me to think that everything is part of the same dream: growing, learning and leaving a mark. There are days when fatigue weighs heavy, but there is also a part of me that enjoys being on the move. Knowing that I am building my path with effort and passion gives me energy to keep going.
How do you imagine the future of sports journalism done by women and what role would you like to play in that transformation?
I imagine it freer, more empathetic and more diverse. I believe that we women are changing the way sport is told, bringing sensitivity, depth and new perspectives. I would like to be an active part of that change, to continue opening spaces and to show that soccer can also be narrated from the heart, without losing professionalism. Hopefully my work inspires other girls to believe that they can also be there, where before it seemed there was no room for us.
INSIGHTS:
A book or movie that made an impact on you: Interstellar. It impacted me because of the relationship between the father and the daughter. My dad passed away when I was seven years old, and every time I watch the movie I feel like it reflects that: that love and connection with someone can go beyond time, space and life itself.
A person you deeply admire: My mom. For her strength, her calmness and her way of making everything seem possible even when it is not. She taught me that humility and perseverance open more doors than any talent.
A phrase or principle that guides your life: “If you fall seven times, stand up eight.” I heard it when I was nine years old and, since then, it stuck with me. Every time something gets complicated, I repeat it to myself. It is my reminder that no matter how many times something knocks you down, you can always get back up.
Your most precious asset: My resilience. It has been what allowed me to keep going when I felt everything falling apart. Thanks to it, I learned to rebuild myself, to adapt and to trust that everything has its moment.
A fear that you have learned to transform or that has left you a lesson: The fear of failing. It used to paralyze me, now I see it as part of the process. Failing also teaches, shapes your character and prepares you for what is to come.
A favorite flavor or gastronomic experience: The matcha from COFI, definitely. It calms me down and is a treat I could always have.
