Many believe that the new year is a time to set new goals. This includes anything from working out more often, to new commitments such as eating healthier and the list goes on. I have chosen a different approach. As I walk out of 2024 and into 2025, it is difficult for me not to acknowledge the amazing places I visited and all I learned.

A year full of travel allowed me to experience cultures in the United States and around the world. I visited Las Vegas and did not spend a dollar betting on something I would never win, but this was only because I was a month short of spending my life savings in a casino. Anyone who knows me would say this is growth.

Two weeks later, I went to Carlsbad, Ca. where I competed with my teammates for the NCAA Division I National Championship. I had never played at this level, but looking back on it I handled it well. The nervous feeling I experienced while standing on the first tee each day was growth.

In late June I embarked on study abroad in Florence, Italy where I tried some of the best wine, pasta, and pizza in the world. I did not know anyone in the program when I boarded my flight in Tallahassee. This experience was similar to playing for the National Championship, it was something I had never done. It required growth.

In Italy, I visited Ancient Rome with my dad in the July sun. There is no doubt in my mind that day was the hottest day on Earth. I experienced the Tuscan countryside with my family and enjoyed wine from small family vineyards. Italy reminded me of family and slowing down to enjoy the simplest things in life with the most important element being love.

While studying in Florence, I visited many other countries. Split, Croatia, was my first destination where I zip-lined from mountain to mountain and visited waterfalls. The next stop was Barcelona, where I gazed at the beauty of Montserrat on horseback. I walked through Park Guell during my visit and admired some of the most interesting artwork. The destination was an unforgettable weekend in the Savoie. There, I visited my friend’s family who had recently moved from Paris to the region. I walked through a glacier, went to the first cross-country ski resort in the area, tried goat cheese from a local farmer, and so much more!

My time studying abroad is an experience I will never forget. What I learned the most and was true for every place I visited was the emphasis on enjoying life. It seems simple, but it is something that I struggle to do in everyday life. The locals in the European countries I visited enjoyed their lunch breaks that were hours long, and café employees took the time to ask about my day and get to know me. Many may ask about your day in the South, but a lot of time it is just out of habit.

I took a break from travel until I visited Napa Valley in late November. I traveled with nine other students from Florida State University’s Dedman School of Hospitality. There, I had new experiences learning new things about wine. I will forever claim that was the best week of school. The culture of the community in Napa Valley reminded me of what I had experienced during my summer of travel. Although the wineries and vineyards in the area competed with each other, they were all there to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.

From beginning to end, 2024 caused me to grow. Competing at the highest level and traveling to places without knowing anyone forced me to change some of the ways I approached life. Growth is not easy, but it can happen with commitment. I look forward to slowing down enough to invest in others and my surroundings every day.