The WanderFull Life

Hanauma Bay, Hawaii 

Let’s say I never imagined myself to be where I am at merely 26 years old. World traveler, event planner, and a fierce adventurer loving the simple things in life. Looking back, I grew up in a town in Georgia called Peachtree City. It was the new town on the block, instead of cars we drove golf carts, literal golf carts, EVERYWHERE. We were very much the “ish”, or so we thought. In reality, this place was and still is an absolute bubble. A bubble that I love but like all other bubbles it has its issues.

I grew up one of seven siblings but was blessed with a childhood beyond measure. I was raised by parents who very much instilled a dream big and chase hard mentality. I was a headstrong child giving my parents a run for their money and I am a head strong adult still giving my parents a run for their money. But, the greatest thing they could have ever taught me was how to have faith in Jesus and to always remain humble.

The bubble popped for me when I decided to head up the east coast to attend college. Unlike some of my fellow graduates I wanted to discover life way outside the bubble. Landing at Salisbury University I had no idea what I was in for. Never visiting the University prior to orientation I took a huge risk. That risk ended up being the greatest reward of my life.

Can't you tell by the excitement? 

I met some of the best and some of the worst friends I could ever meet at this University. I had my first major heartbreak and I failed my first class. I switched my major about 450 times and cried equally as much about my “hard” college life. All the things of a typical college student but I was all about SU and I will forever cherish my college memories.

I became employed by the Student University Center my second semester of freshman year and this became the moment I will never forget. Brian Lind and Austin Hayes are two names that will forever mean the world to me. They changed my life for the better. I don’t know that they know how much they mean to me but it’s a lot. I had not a single clue of the direction I wanted to go in in life and I let them know that about 3000 times each. I cried with them, laughed with them, and discovered myself with them.

Salisbury University,
Guerrieri University Center

To them, I might have been just an employee, but to me, they were my inspiration. They had a level of professionalism and drive I really learned from. I made mistakes and got corrected but most importantly I got supported and rewarded for the things I was doing right. And even more important than that, they saw something in me and they simply just gave me a chance.

This chance opened every door to my current career and I could not be more thankful for that.  Growing up I was insecure about how strong willed and determined I was and how much I wanted but didn’t know how to be a leader. Discovering myself in that as a child was difficult. But, at this job known to them or not, they taught me how to take that drive and apply it in a professional manner. They provided me with leadership experience and really taught me firsthand about the real world.

So here I am almost 4 years later my first “real” job as an event specialist thinking back about the journey to this point. All of those experiences both good and bad taught me the true meaning of living life to the fullest and taking one day at a time. For me, living life to the fullest means chasing my dreams- personal and career wise, traveling as much as humanly and financially possible, and opting to go on every adventure I come across. Big or small I set a dream and I determine to chase it. And one day, I hope as Brian and Austin did for me, I hope to turn around and help someone else chase and reach their dreams. And that passion is what drives me in life. My only hope for all is that they have a wanderfull life filled with lots of cool experiences.