Some Places Call You Before You Arrive

Lily Tessarzik, Marco Island Academy 2025 high school graduate, packed up all her belongings to begin her education at the Florida State University (FSU) campus in Florence, Italy. Her story did not begin there, boarding the plane to begin her quest through the stoned streets of Italy. No, it began back in her small Island town, Goodland, Florida, where she moved from upstate New York.

Her first trip to Europe was during her first year of high school, when her father took her and her cousin to visit her grandfather’s childhood home in Hamburg, Germany. What started as a family vacation quickly became something more. Sitting on the front porch of her grandfather’s home, surrounded by unfamiliar streets and stories from the past, Lily felt an unexpected sense of comfort and connection. That trip planted the first roots of her love for Europe, and with the years to follow, that feeling stayed with her. Time passed quickly after Lily traveled to Florence the summer before her junior year at MIA. Every string she thought she had left behind quietly guided her toward where she was always meant to be — leading her to the greatest joy and fulfillment of her life.

The new fall school year crept up quickly, and now Lily was a junior in high school. As she walked through the school’s double glass doors, still wearing her traveler’s goggles, she immediately noticed MIA’s History and Culture Club announcement for the annual summer trip to Paris, Switzerland, and Germany. Naturally, she signed up immediately. Lily worked every shift she could save for the trip as a server and hostess, determined to make it happen. After such a vast experience, she immediately signed up for the next summer trip in 2025 that happened just so to be venturing to Florence - what a lucky girl!

Going into her senior year, she applied to Florida colleges and was accepted to all except Florida State University, where she was deferred. She said, “I was fine with that, because I had my heart set on UCF for some reason, so I didn’t really give FSU a second thought.” As the school year went on, Lily happened to stumble across Mrs. Galiana, who was surprised by the fact that she did not know about the FSU first year abroad program. Galiana, recently retired, was a History, Humanities, and AICE Global teacher. Lily wasn't planning on reapplying at FSU, but right when she heard that the FSU first year program was stationed in Florence, Italy, she bolted to her computer. At the cusp of the application deadline that night, Lily clicked “apply” and then “submit” in hopes she would have the experience of a lifetime. “If I never talked to Mrs. G that day, I would have never reapplied, and I would’ve missed my shot,” she said.

A couple of months later, Lily casually opened her email on the way to her lacrosse game and saw a message from Florida State University. As she read the decision letter, she was screaming in her head but stayed calm until she finally burst into celebration with her teammates. One of the most fascinating parts of her application was her essay about Ponte Vecchio, symbolizing her first trip to Florence and how it completely changed her life and perspective. Unbelievably, she ended up getting to live right across that very bridge her first year of college in Florence. That is more than luck! That is a heavenly wink.

Lily made it! All her sleepless nights to get to Italy were finally a reality. Lily said every time she would walk over her precious monumental bridge, looking at Ponte Vecchio, she was overwhelmed with gratitude. It became an everyday ritual to walk across that bridge from morning to night, and she would stop in her tracks and just say “thank you.” There were no bad days, even if she and her fellow travel buddies would be stuck in long-awaited lines to board their next flight, she would still have a smile on her face because she was standing in a lengthy line in ITALY! Waiting to go to GREECE! She explained how a normal annoyance would be a joyous moment for her because she was living her dream life. Over the seven-month program, she has created many profound memories to share with her loved ones. She got to learn a diverse majority of cultures, history, and people. Everything would be different with just a two-hour flight; she had the world in her hands. Lily inspires high school students to step out of their comfort zones and make the most of new experiences.

During her time abroad, she met new people, shared meals with locals in Rhodes, Greece, and formed lifelong friendships with girls in the FSU program. She traveled across a river in Budapest on a cruise her very first night, along with friends, and ended up spending the whole weekend with people she had just met. Since FSU gives all students Fridays off, she and her friends had more free time to travel. Occasionally, they would stay in hostels on weekend trips where she got to meet people from all over the world. “In Switzerland, we met people from Nigeria, someone from Brazil, and some from Philly,” she said. “All of us were from different ends of the world, but we just happened to be staying in the same hostel in a random town in Switzerland. That was just part of the magic of study abroad.” During the week, Lily balanced classes with what really mattered: paninis and 50-cent wings. Between classes, she became a regular at Antico Noé, living off FSU meal vouchers and paninis like it was her full-time job. Tuesdays were reserved for those 50-cent wings at The Lion's Fountain with her roommates because, according to Lily, “They’re the best wings ever.” Honestly, when have you ever seen 50 Cent wings? Exactly.

The FSU Florence Study Center campus was in the heart of Florence, around the corner from the Uffizi Gallery and a quick walk to the Florence Cathedral. Everything was so close that walking became everyone’s main mode of transportation (and accidental cardio). For further trips, trains and questionable 3:00 AM buses out of Rome became the budget-travel strategy.

During her year abroad, she visited over 10 countries and traveled consistently for about six months. Some of her favorite places to travel were to Lisbon, the Dolomites for skiing, London, and the Canary Islands.

Her study abroad experience was nothing short of extraordinary, turning Europe into her classroom and every weekend into a new adventure. Based in Turin, Italy, during her first semester, she immersed herself in Italian culture while traveling across the continent, from celebrating the excitement and world-famous traditions of Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, to exploring the sun-drenched beaches and medieval charm of Rhodes, Greece. She wandered

through the ancient streets of Rome, admired the vibrant architecture and energy of Barcelona, and spent a memorable fall break with her mom discovering the beauty of Rome, Venice, and the colorful cliffside villages of Cinque Terre. Her travels also took her to Munich and Innsbruck, where stunning Alpine scenery created postcard-worthy views, as well as Hamburg, Paris, Disneyland Paris, and London, each offering its own unique blend of history, culture, and unforgettable experiences. During her second semester, Lily continued her adventures with visits to Copenhagen, the volcanic landscapes of Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, the breathtaking Dolomites and Trento, the grand architecture of Budapest, the lakeside beauty of Lugano, and the colorful streets of Lisbon. She also explored southern Italy, experiencing the vibrant culture of Naples, the crystal-clear waters and dramatic cliffs of Capri, and the coastal charm of Bari, from iconic landmarks and mountain peaks to Mediterranean sunsets and lifelong memories.

Lily explains the trip to be perfect in her eyes; she wouldn’t go back to change a single thing, even if it means changing the amount of money she spent on gelato. Every decision she made created a memory she can now hold onto for a lifetime. Traveling has been her pride and joy in life; it's very obvious how much she enjoys exploring the world, even if it means exploring solo. Her face lights up and she begins to dream until it becomes her reality. “I’ll remember the nights I spent wandering through my favorite city with my best friends and sitting on my bridge after class while watching the sun set on the Arno,” she said. For travel advice for anyone who has a pull on their heart to study abroad, Lily's answer would be “Just do it. Everything will work out, and even if it does not the first time, try again. There will be obstacles in any type of process you decide to begin, just know you were meant to start it for a reason, and that leap of faith you take will only be the best decision you ever make.”

Lily is so grateful for her support team through this journey, like the educators at Marco Island Academy, “Mrs. Walther, Mrs. Higuera, Señor Higuera, and Mrs. G all mean so much to me; they all work so hard to put on History and Culture Clubs' amazing trips for all the students.” She is also grateful to her supportive and loving family. She will never overlook nor forget how much they cheered her on and were always proud of her for her hard work and dedication to getting to Florence. To the surprise of no one, Lily is still traveling throughout her summer break. Starting in her house in Germany, she will eventually travel through Spain and Portugal soon after. Lily started a lifestyle and she will always be eager to pack up her bags to explore more of the world any chance she can get.