Growth rarely looks the way we expect it to. We tend to measure it in milestones: the degree, the job offer, the launch. But the older I get, the more I've come to believe that the quieter moments are the ones that actually change us.

Over the past few years, I've worked across real estate and startup recruiting while studying entrepreneurship full-time at the University of Miami. Each experience has been different, but what has stayed with me isn't the headline of any of it. It's the in-between: a conversation that reframed how I thought about something, a moment where I chose to speak instead of stay quiet, a stretch of uncertainty that turned out to be exactly what I needed.

Walking into a professional environment for the first time is disorienting in a way that nobody really prepares you for. Everyone around you seems to already know the rhythm of the room. I remember sitting in meetings early in my internships, wondering whether my perspective had any place at the table. What I eventually learned is that discomfort isn't a warning sign. It's a signal that something real is happening. The moment I stopped trying to eliminate that feeling and started leaning into it, everything shifted.

Speaking up was its own process. I used to rehearse thoughts in my head until they felt airtight before saying them out loud. But a few times, I pushed past that hesitation and contributed anyway, imperfectly and incompletely. And it was fine. Better than fine. Those small acts of showing up built something I couldn't have gotten any other way.

Working across industries also taught me how differently people build trust. In real estate, credibility is earned slowly, through consistency and presence. In recruiting, it's about how quickly you can make someone feel understood. Neither lesson came from a class. They came from watching closely and paying attention to the details most people walk past.

What I keep coming back to is this: the moments that shape you most aren't always the ones you'd put on a resume. They're the ones that quietly change how you see yourself and what you think you're capable of. I'm still in the middle of figuring things out, and I've made peace with that. The in-between is where most of the real work happens.

I studied abroad in Florence, Italy, from December 2025 to May 2025. It was an awesome five months where I got to live in this historic city and check out all sorts of European culture and travel.

Travel: While based in Florence, I traveled to several other European countries, including trips to Rome, Venice, Milan, and smaller towns across Italy and beyond.

Food: I tried tons of new dishes and foods, from classic Italian pasta and pizza to regional specialties like fresh seafood in coastal areas and seasonal produce from local markets in Florence.

Shopping: I went shopping in various locations, including high end boutiques in Florence's Via de' Tornabuoni, bustling markets in Milan, and local shops offering handmade goods like leather items and textiles.

Museums and Historical Sites: I visited several museums and historical sites, such as the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, the Vatican Museums in Rome, the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, ancient ruins in Rome, and the canals of Venice.

This experience gave me some great insights into different cultures, made me more adaptable, and really boosted my appreciation for global perspectives.

Trying new restaurants and coffee shops every day has become my favorite part of the routine. Checking out different food options and vibes helps me find new flavors and connect with all kinds of cultures in a real way.

This includes hitting up all sorts of restaurants, from cozy casual spots with comforting home style meals to fancy places with gourmet dishes. Experimenting with different cuisines is a total highlight, from classic American comfort food to exotic international stuff like sushi, Thai curries, or Japanese ramen. Trying street food, like fresh tacos or gourmet hot dogs, adds some adventure to my meals, and finding local specialties that show off each neighborhood's vibe is always super exciting.

For coffee shops, I check out different cafes for espresso, cappuccino, matcha, and other drinks. Matcha lattes are one of my favorites because of their smooth, earthy taste and the chill way they're made. The variety in coffee styles is super cool, from bold Italian espressos to creamy cappuccinos, and trying out different brewing methods like pour over or cold brew is a lot of fun. The unique vibes of each place, whether it's a busy urban spot or a quiet corner with soft lighting, make every visit special and add to my daily exploration and chill time.

These experiences have really opened up my taste buds and gotten me trying all sorts of new flavors, ingredients, and food traditions from different cultures. Trying new foods and drinks all the time keeps things interesting and makes me more open to new things, and it's awesome how these little daily adventures boost my appreciation for global diversity. Keeping this up will help me stay connected to the world around me.