On the day of the 2025 NCAA National Championship in April, all of the UF campus was humming with energy.  Walking to class, I saw tons of people decked out in orange and blue and basketball merch. The streets around campus were packed as students camped out for hours, trying to secure somewhere to watch the men’s basketball game. My friends and I were having busy days, so we decided to watch the game from home, but the location did not take away from the excitement.

I always knew I was made for football. Growing up in the football hotbeds of Miami and Fort Lauderdale, I started playing the game when I was 4 years old. I dreamed of one day participating at the collegiate and professional levels, and I came to realize that I wanted to make a career out of it.  I had long said that, whenever my playing days were over, I would get into coaching. Much to my surprise, that opportunity came sooner than I ever could have imagined. When it came time for college and I decided to attend the University of Florida, I leaned into the football contacts from my childhood in South Florida.

My recent summer internship as an entertainment and promotions intern with Fans First Entertainment, the company that owns the Savannah Bananas baseball team, was truly one of the most impactful experiences of my life.  The UF Department of Sport Management played a big role in me getting the internship, navigating the experience and now having new applicants express their interest to me.

If you’re new to UF, you’ve probably figured out your dorm and class schedule, but what about everything else – like where to eat on a budget, hang out with your friends or study off campus? Don’t worry, I’ve done the heavy lifting for you, and based on my research, I’ve created a guesswork-free guide to navigating UF on a student budget.

When I first came to UF from Fort Myers, I knew I wanted a major that aligned with dental school prerequisites while also deepening my understanding of human health. Nutritional sciences helped me better understand the human body, and following the dental track allowed me to use my skills while connecting meaningfully with my community.