When Ariya Massoudi first stepped on to the Florida State University (FSU) campus, he had one goal: aid athletes in the form of medicine. But life had a different direction for Massoudi.

“When I hurt my knee in high school it made me want to help people who had knee issues and sports injuries,” said Massoudi. But after taking his first biology class and having a conversation with a close friend, he quickly pivoted, realizing that this career path didn’t align with him.

Massoudi’s friend, a college football player, reinforced the notion that Massoudi was heavily knowledgeable in sport even joking that he knew more about football. With this insight, Massoudi went into Digital Media Production and Sport Management at FSU. Here he gained the tactical skills to be able to truly delve into his passion for storytelling and eventually guided him to his current career as a broadcaster for ESPN and ACC Network.

“I understand where they come from…I understand what these players are being asked to do and what it takes to dig deep and find yourself as an athlete and help your team win,” said Massoudi, who spends hours preparing for each game that he covers. “You need to understand the overall landscape of the sport you’re covering being able to go into each game and know what you’re looking for, what the storylines are and how each of these players and teams have got to this point, and where they want to go from there.”

Even as a reporter, Massoudi still experiences pre show nerves. However, the surge of energy he gets before speaking on camera has transitioned into “good nerves,” and he utilizes this energy to focus on his speaking, giving him his spark on camera.

“If you don’t get nervous it means you don’t care so nerves are a good sign, but they subside when you master what you’re doing,” Massoudi said.

At FSU, Massoudi was heavily involved in a multitude of organizations that allowed him to acquire this skill set. Specifically, being a part of both FSView and Seminole Productions, which gave him the opportunity to practice and gain confidence in his craft. Massoudi still keeps this connection to FSU through his involvement in the Seminole Sports Radio Network doing pre- and post-game for FSU Football.

While these professional experiences shaped his current career, Massoudi addressed the importance of relationships. “Everybody [at FSU] really cares about your career and wants to see you succeed. To me, the people at Florida State standout and the opportunities help make a difference to get you where you want to go.”