From Costa Rica to Korea to Kazan: WorldSkills Champion uses IT skills to promote skills development

Diego López, the new WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for the Americas, competed at WorldSkills Kazan 2019 in IT Network Systems Administration, earning a Medallion for Excellence, and the Best of Nation award.

Born in Pérez Zeledón, a small agricultural and tourist region in southern Costa Rica, Diego moved to San José after high school. He dreamed of pursuing higher education in Information and Communications Technology. However, with high university tuition costs, he took a strategic path – enrolling in a technical degree at the National Training Institute (INA), which offers free technical and vocational education and training. His plan was to secure a job and later fund his university studies.

At the time, INA had recently joined WorldSkills, participating in only a few skills. When Diego passed the selection process to compete in WorldSkills Kazan 2019, he embarked on intensive training, working seven days a week. “It was very hard because I was living alone, far away from my family,” he recalls. However, the experience taught him valuable skills such as discipline, which continue to benefit him today.

A game-changing moment in his preparation came when WorldSkills Korea offered him a three-month training opportunity in Korea. “It was a life-changing experience,” Diego says.

One of the most defining moments in Diego’s life came when he was called to the stage in Kazan to receive his Medallion for Excellence.

“I was feeling down because I struggled with two of my Test Projects and never expected to win anything,“ he admits. ”When they called my name, I was shocked. I grabbed my country’s flag and ran to get the medal – I cried like a baby.”

To commemorate his achievements, Diego tattooed both of his medals on his forearm.

Following WorldSkills, Diego was recruited by an American company, where he worked for four years before transitioning to another firm that allows him to work remotely. In 2022, he took the next step in his professional development and enrolled in university, attending evening classes twice a week.

Despite his busy schedule, he remains deeply involved with WorldSkills Costa Rica, serving as a national Expert, mentoring students, and sharing his journey at events and interviews.

In his new role as part of the WorldSkills Champions Trust, Diego hopes to inspire other young people to follow their dreams. “It can be hard to leave your hometown and to be far away from your family. I want people to know that following your dreams is worth it,” he says. He is also interested in raising awareness on the power skills education can have in tackling poverty and unemployment, particularly youth unemployment.

Diego believes that adaptability is crucial in fast-evolving fields like IT. “You need to be creative and flexible in this industry. While he has earned several certifications, he also learns new skills through YouTube and other online resources. Over time, his interests have shifted from coding to cloud computing.

Diego’s future goals include living abroad and traveling more to experience different cultures. He also hopes that his time with WorldSkills Champions Trust will help him refine his communication skills and expand his global perspective.