One Year Ago...

Give or take a few days, it was at this time last year that I walked across the stage and shook hands with President Shalala, accepted my diploma and so ended my days of undergraduate studies in Miami, Florida. It was the end, but the beginning of a long road, filled with disappointments, barriers, tears, and a whole lot of surfing in the pursuit of a dream.

It all began in the fall of my junior year at the University of Miami. Before ever starting a college application, I told myself that I was going to spend a semester abroad, and now it was time to check it off my list. There was only two places that really called out to me to go abroad: Monaco or Australia. At the risk of not graduating on time, I chose to go to Sydney; a choice that will change my life and who I am.



It was in those 5 months in Australia that I figured out who I was and what I was made of. It was the first real eye opening experience and I knew what I was like to be on your own and independent. It’s quite different when you’re half way around the world on your own. Course whenever anyone visits Australia/Sydney, there are quite a few “Must Do,” and right at the top of my list was to learn how to surf. I booked myself on a weekend surf camp and was taken down the coast to 7 Mile Beach.


I had two fantastic surf instructors, Chris and Andrew, who kind of looks like Kelly Slater, so we just called him Kelly the entire time. I have to credit it to these two guys for getting me into surfing and being patience w/ me, especially Chris who figured out that I was goofy and not natural.



Combined with having awesome surf instructors and living at Bondi Beach when I returned from surf camp, I continued at surfing. The sensation of catching a wave and standing for the first time is addicting and an adrenaline rush. I can’t wait to get my first barrel. I didn’t want to leave Australia. There must be something in the water of there.

Upon returning to Miami and with the assistance of my wonderful mentor, I saw the path to marry my passion with my career and so I set to pursue a marketing career in the surf/action sports industry. There wasn’t really much I could do being Florida where the only waves we get were from Hurricane swells. I knew if I was serious about working in the surf industry, I would have to move to Southern California or the Gold Coast in Australia.

So just a month after graduating, I moved out to Souther California and started to pursue my dream; that was almost a year ago. Am I any closer?? Well I’m a hell of lot closer than I will ever be if I stayed on the East Coast. I’ve got a few breaks here and there, but it’s about the hunt and pursuit not the catch that makes this all so exciting and thrilling. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.