Peer Interview

Interviewee: Izabela

Interviewer: Sophie Sweeney

01/30/2018

             After two years of living in the harsh, cold climate of up-state New York, Izabela decided it was time to turn in her winter coat and boots for jean shorts and sunglasses. Out of all the places that Izabela has lived including, Bulgaria, Indiana, New York, and now Florida, Florida is by far her favorite “weather wise”. Although Izabela is new to Florida State this year, she is not unfamiliar with adjusting to new places and meeting new people.

            Tallahassee is Izabela’s current home but, there are other places that she holds close to her heart and recognizes as “home”. Izabela was born in Bulgaria and lived there until her junior year in high school, at this time, she made her big transition to the states to study as a foreign exchange student. Her first stop was Indianapolis, “My first six months, which were in Indiana, were pretty bad, like I hated it, it was horrible.”, as time passed and Izabela became more familiar with her transition to life in the US, which would be difficult for any 17 year old, she began to love Indiana and the people she met there; her host family became like real family, “we love each other now, I go and see them on every break.” Izabela ended up loving Indiana and going to school in the states so much that she did not want to leave, “and I was the first one to stay in that school, to be able to stay another year, I made it happen.”.

            Izabela’s last stop before Florida State, as previously mentioned was a small private college in upstate New York, “upstate New York, it was so tiny...and I can’t handle cold”, honestly to me, Florida State sounds like the perfect fit for Izabela. She enjoyed New York and made a lot of great friends, “they are my closest friends right now, like I talk with them almost daily.” But, despite being born and raised in Bulgaria, the cold was too much so she made the move down south. Florida State has been a great move for Izabela because she is studying Criminology, one of Florida States best programs. Izabela is committed to her classes and spends the majority of her time studying, “my free time is very limited, I’ll be in the library most of the time.”. However, when she does have a few spare hours, she enjoys martial arts, like jujitsu, kickboxing, and running. All of these activities prepare her for her future career, hopefully in the federal government or law enforcement, “for the longest time… someone was teaching me how to shoot with guns because I wanted to be specifically a special sniper agent.” “I don’t want to sit in an office all the time.”.

            After her time as an undergraduate at Florida State, she plans to continue her education on into graduate school, whether it be at FSU or another university, “It depends who I meet on my way to grad. school…and the college of criminology is pretty high in the nation so, if I get in, I might just stay.”. Nevertheless, Izabela is adjusting to her new life here at Florida State by staying on top of her grades and keeping her mind focused on her future studies and career.