Growing up with all the water and sunshine I could handle in Tampa, Florida, gave me an incite into all that the outdoors had to offer. Growing up in a bustling big city made me yearn for a smaller town vibe. I attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Home of the swamp, both literally and figuratively.

Following my undergraduate studies, I longed to see more of the world so I set my sights on getting into the Global MBA program with the University of North Florida located in Jacksonville, Florida. (I think y’all can see the trend—I am a Florida sunflower through and through.)

My graduate studies led me to Europe for about a year. Our first stop was Germany, and naturally we took on Oktoberfest. Our study time was quickly engulfed with travel to a new city each weekend. Our cohort was made up of German, American, Polish and Chinese students. Our local German students took me to their hometowns and I truly was able to appreciate the rich culture and history of Germany.

The next country I was lucky enough to live in was Germany’s eastern neighbor, Poland.

Poland is another one of the world’s hidden gems. The charming people and culture of this country won my heart. The city of Warsaw is bustling with nightlife and universities. People from all over the world come to soak up all the culture they can.

I tell you all of this because this world wide graduate studies only blossomed me into the traveling sunflower I have become. When I traveled to St Augustine for a weekend from Jacksonville I knew this place was special and wanted to one day live and own property here.