Making Dreams Come True with the Innovation Academy: My First Year, My Big Adventure

By Sabrina Lopez

Hi, I’m Sabrina Lopez, a freshman in UF’s Innovation Academy. I’m majoring in Accounting with a pre-law focus, but what really excites me is the chance to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. Along with being a licensed realtor, I’m exploring new opportunities to grow, collaborate, and bring fresh ideas to life. The Innovation Academy has already been an amazing experience, and I’m so excited to see where this journey takes me as part of a community that encourages creativity and big dreams!

I never imagined my first semester of college would take me so far—literally. When I started this journey, I had big dreams and a list of goals, but I had no idea the Innovation Academy would help me check off one of the biggest ones: studying abroad and discovering the world. After only one semester in IA, I found myself embarking on an incredible adventure to Ireland—a country I never thought I’d get to explore so soon in my college experience.

But I have to admit, it wasn’t easy. Excitement and fear mixed together every time I thought about the trip. It was my first time being so far from home! Before getting on the plane, I had no idea what to expect, and to be honest, I was terrified. But if I’ve learned anything from this experience, it’s that sometimes you have to embrace discomfort and take the leap—because on the other side of that initial nervousness might just be the best experience of your life.

From day one, every moment in Ireland taught me something new. Not only did I discover the warmth and fascinating culture of the country, but I also learned that creativity is a skill we all have, one that grows when we dare to practice it and share it with others. One of my earliest memories was in a beginner session on Arduino. Arduino? Just a month before, I had no idea what that even was! But being surrounded by people who had the same questions and the same eagerness to learn, it was amazing to see how we gradually understood, experimented, and created together.

Along with improving myself individually, the Innovation Academy showed me the importance of teamwork. In each project, we worked in groups of four, and every group member contributed something unique. At first, we all wanted to work with our friends, but we quickly realized that collaborating with people from different perspectives made ideas flow better and projects much more enriching.

Each of us brought a different viewpoint, which allowed us to create prototypes that we could never have achieved alone. I learned that by opening myself up to new ideas, I wasn’t only improving the design process, but I was also learning to see the world from other perspectives. That experience was invaluable and taught me to value diversity in every area of my life, both personal and professional.

The Innovation Academy also helped me change my professional outlook. After graduating high school, I decided to get my real estate license and started working as an agent during the summer. However, it was through the Innovation Academy that I was able to see my career from a fresh perspective. I learned to present myself and sell my ideas effectively. IA taught me tools that not only improved my skills but also gave me confidence in my own ideas. I learned how to capture the audience’s attention and communicate clearly and persuasively. One week after returning from Ireland, I was already in my first-ever real estate contract!

Through my experiences in the Innovation Academy, I’ve learned that education extends far beyond classrooms and textbooks; it’s a journey where every challenge and achievement helps you grow into a stronger, more creative version of yourself. The Innovation Academy has been that transformative experience for me, and I’ll always be grateful I took that step. And from one IA student to a future one, my advice is this: learn to be comfortable with discomfort. It’s normal to feel uncertain at first, but soon enough, you’ll love the experience and see how much it helps you grow. Don’t hesitate to speak your mind—no idea is ever too small, and each one has the potential to lead to something amazing.