When I first came to ASU, I was a lost freshman looking for some sort of sign as to “what I should do with my life” or what major I should chose. I first started at the business school, and at the start of my 2^nd semester I was told I needed to make a decision as to what “type” of business I wanted to study. This is when I randomly chose Tourism Management and Development, and my only reasoning was because of my love for travel and learning about new destinations.

It was the beginning of sophomore year when I was in one of Dr. Timothy’s classes, where I was handed a brochure on the winter session in Dubai with Dr. Teye. After convincing my parents, I couldn’t wait until New Years Day to depart with my other colleagues and Dr. Teye to Dubai. My entire experience in Dubai was unforgettable – from the information and knowledge we learned from Dr. Teye in the classroom, to the social experiences, to the site-visits of the beautiful locations near and far. This was also the location where I took one of my hardest Tourism classes – International Tourism – with Dr. Teye. I will never forget having to take a quiz and memorize all of the African countries and their capitals! Something I never thought I’d be able to do but with Dr. Teye’s instruction, anything seemed possible.

It was towards the end of our amazing winter abroad when Dr. Teye told me about his summer program going to Australia and Fiji. I instantly said “I’m in!” and couldn’t wait for the next semester to be over so I could go to Australia and Fiji with some more great students from ASU and Dr. Teye. The program in Australia and Fiji was just as magical. We learned so much from Dr. Teye while also being able to have some of the most fun in our lives – like bungee jumping, visiting the Great Barrier Reef, and more. However, one of the most unforgettable experiences I had was when I was able to celebrate my 20^th birthday in Australia on one of our last nights. Dr. Teye helped us arrange a double decker bus and made sure I was going to have one of the best nights of my life. Dr. Teye and his beautiful wife, Anna, gave me a birthday card and sent us on our night out. It was truly, truly unforgettable.

Once I got back from both of these trips, I knew that Tourism was exactly the place I was meant to be. Dr. Teye always expressed his willingness to help me personally as well. He encouraged my fellow classmates and I to come to his office hours to help us with our resumes for internships and future jobs. His door was always open for us. Dr. Teye helped open my eyes to the world and to the different aspects that affect all of us before, during, and after traveling. He inspired me to go to places I would never think to go, and to learn things that I thought were beyond my boundaries. Since my double study abroad’s with Dr. Teye, I have graduated with my Bachelors Degree from Arizona State and have recently (as of this month) completed my Masters with Arizona State University in Sustainable Tourism. If it weren’t for that brochure being passed to me in Dr. Timothy’s class, I don’t know where I would be today. Dr. Teye helped me get there and I am so thankful for those moments I was able to spend with him that inspired me to be where I am today. I will never forget Dr. Teye and what he did for me during my time at Arizona State. I am so thankful.