I still remember the day my mom and I decided to go to Italy. It wasn’t planned, it wasn’t practical, and it definitely wasn’t part of any “five-year plan.” I was a senior in high school, finishing my classes online because of Covid and early college admission, and we both just felt ready for something new. So one afternoon, we opened Airbnb, started scrolling through listings all over Italy, and made a spontaneous decision: wherever we find a place we love, that’s where we’ll go.

That place turned out to be Florence. We didn’t know much about it at the time — just that it looked beautiful and full of life. We ended up staying for about two and a half months, and what started as a random escape became one of the most defining chapters of my life.

Florence opened my eyes to the possibility of living differently — of working, studying, and creating from anywhere in the world. I met new people, heard new languages every day, and learned how to navigate life in a completely different culture. More than anything, I grew confident in my ability to adapt.

That trip sparked something in me — a curiosity that never really went away. It’s what planted the idea that I could one day live in Europe, build a career here, and create a life that felt both exciting and meaningful. Looking back now, it wasn’t just a trip to Italy. It was the moment I realized there are no real limits — only the ones we set for ourselves.