Introduction

I was delivered June 17^th, 1996 in Gainesville, Florida at North Florida Regional Medical Center by a family friend. Weighing a little over six pounds, my mother considered her third and final delivery a breeze. I believe she was delighted to finally have another girl around due to the fact she was surrounded by my father and two older brothers. You know what they say: there is no bond quite like one between a mother and her daughter.

Flashing Forward...the summer I turned seventeen was very significant for me. My father and his delightful girlfriend decided it was a must for every young girl to visit Paris, and thus took me to the City of Light for three mind-blowing weeks. This trip changed my life, and ultimately made me realize that Paris is the one city I feel I belong and where I am sure I will end up. This trip also helped me discover what I want to do with my life. 
As a senior in high school, I dual enrolled at Santa Fe College while simultaneously applying to thirteen universities across the nation, and one abroad. However, my parents and friends all knew my dream was to attend the American University of Paris if I was accepted. Throughout the fall and spring semesters I heard back from multiple universities, but it was not until I received my acceptance letter from AUP that I was sure of where I wanted to go. Unfortunately for me, my father was not keen on sending his eighteen year old daughter to a foreign country immediately after high school and after countless times of begging, unsuccessfully, I was told a definite no. This was heart breaking and I was very unsure of what my next step would be but my parents consistently kept implying that UF was my best option. Although attending the University of Florida to begin with, was never something that interested me.
Once again, they were right. Although I was never excited to attend the University of Florida because I felt I would be experiencing everything I did as I grew up, I was completely incorrect. Joining Kappa Delta and moving nine miles away from my parents may not seem like a big deal, but it changed my life drastically. Within the past 18 months I feel as if I have grown and experienced more change than I have in my entire life. Although I did not get to immediately live my dream after getting my high school diploma, I know I am one step closer in the right direction. Majoring in Public Relations, I will have a variety of different opportunities open for me in my future. My desire for adventure and spontaneity has fueled me to begin learning French, and I find myself constantly looking at the study abroad opportunities available in Paris.