This year, I had the incredible honor of attending the Grammy Awards on behalf of my university. Walking into the room for my very first Grammys felt surreal. The energy, the anticipation, the weight of music history happening in real time. As a Music Industry Studies senior, moments like this don’t just feel glamorous, they feel defining.

One of my favorite moments of the night was witnessing Bad Bunny win Album of the Year.

As a Latina in music, being in that room at this moment in our country meant more than words can express. It wasn’t just about an award. It wasn’t just about a chart-topping album. It was about representation. It was about language. It was about culture standing at the very center of one of the most prestigious stages in the music industry.

When his name was announced, the emotion in the room was immediate and undeniable. What struck me most was this: you didn’t have to be Puerto Rican. You didn’t have to be Latino. You didn’t even have to speak Spanish to feel the magnitude of that moment. The pride. The validation. The shift.

It felt like a statement.

Sitting there, watching history unfold live, I realized how badly I want to be part of moments like that in my own career. Not just to work in music for the sake of entertainment but to work alongside artists who create impact. Artists who create hope. Artists who use their platforms to speak on behalf of communities, to stand up for what’s happening in the world, and to remind people that music has always been bigger than just music.

Being in the room while that moment happened pushed something in me. It reminded me why I chose this path. Why I study this industry. Why I interview artists. Why I care so deeply about Latin music and the spaces we’re taking up.

That night wasn’t just my first Grammys. It was a glimpse into the kind of future I want to help build, one where culture is celebrated loudly, where voices are amplified globally, and where Latinos in music can see themselves represented on every stage.

It was a special moment to witness.

Even more special to be part of.