Andy’s Adventures are About to Begin

Hi everyone! 

I hope you are all safe, happy, and healthy. 

I cannot believe the day is almost here! My suitcases are filled to the brim, and I am ready to tackle my next adventure. I will leave on Sunday, August 28th for a three-and-a-half-month internship experience in Rome, Italy. If you would have told me one year ago or even six months ago that I would be leaving for Rome in four days I simply would not have believed you. But here I am, nervous, excited, and hardly able to sleep! 

But let’s back it up a little bit. 

I was born and raised in Rochester, MN and I left for school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after I graduated high school. At UNL I was a student-athlete and I majored in Journalism, Psychology, and Broadcasting. I was a pole vaulter on the UNL Women’s Track and Field Team, medaled at Big Tens four times, and was chosen as UNL’s Female Student-Athlete of the Year. I made so many wonderful friends and memories during my time at Nebraska, and I am so grateful for every single moment of it. Because I was a student-athlete, I was able to travel across the United States and make lifelong friends competing in various states. I will cherish these friendships forever. However, I exhausted all of my eligibility, and now it is time for my next adventure. 

Which brings us to now. 

Even though I have seen most of North America, I have never been overseas and what better place to start than Rome! I have everything I could possibly need (and then some) packed, and I am ready to start the next chapter of my life. I am going into this experience with no expectations and an adventurous mindset. I plan to take advantage of absolutely everything Rome has to offer and to make the most out of each and every day! I hope to find some hidden gems and talk with locals. I will also share pictures and posts from all of my experiences. In Rome, I hope to visit the Vatican, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Amalfi Coast, the Roman Forum, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. I’ll also share my experiences of everywhere I visit outside of Rome from Tuscany to Paris to Amsterdam to Switzerland to Naples to Austria to Athens and everywhere in between! But most of all, I’ll explain everything about Rome’s cuisine. I might just have to try every flavor of gelato there is! 

Aside from sightseeing and experiencing the culture of Rome, I will be interning with, II Romanista, helping to do media for the AS Roma Soccer Team. I knew I wanted to combine my love for Journalism and athletics and I am so thankful for the way I am able to do so. It all feels like a dream come true, and I won’t believe its real until I get on that plane Sunday morning. 

It’s time to make some memories and live my life. 

Ciao for now! 

Andy =)