TAMPA – In life, there are relationships, passions, and experiences that will change your life in a way you don't expect.
This is how golf changed Juliana Camargo Torres’ life for the best, both on the links and in the business classroom.
A rising star at the University of South Florida, Camargo Torres is a student-athlete on the varsity women's golf team and a sophomore double majoring in philosophy and finance with a concentration in investment analysis.
But her first love was golf. She started playing golf when she was 5 years old and has been competing in tournaments for the past 15 years.
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Camargo Torres moved to Orlando when she was 11 years old. Fast-forward four years, she was already being scouted by USF's athletics department as a sophomore at Windermere High School.
It didn't take long for her to commit to playing varsity golf for the Bulls, a decision that would set her on a path to success both on and off the course.
The USF women's golf team is having a historic season and earned the program's first NCAA Regional bid since 2012. The Bulls are the No. 10 seed in the Palm Beach Gardens Regional being played at PGA National Resort Palm Beach May 8-10.
This season, Camargo Torres has had her best season as a Bull, with a scoring average of 73.66 and posting three Top 10 finishes.
She says golf has shaped her the way she is today, helping her to make a lot of friends, connect with other athletes, and gain experience. However, the task is not easy, especially as a student-athlete.
"You need a great time management to keep up with class projects, exams, work, and competitions. I sometimes get overwhelmed when studying on the road to a competition and going straight from the course to class, " she said.
She says it’s important to do one thing at a time and to know how to balance different aspects of life.
In class, Camargo Torres has a deep passion for her philosophy major, describing it as a key to understanding how her own mind works and how she can apply it to her life and to the world around her.
Besides that, she has fallen in love with art, music, and dance, and even works as a fitness instructor within the cardio dance and meditate and stretch area. The athlete has a unique viewpoint on life and considers those who are frequently classified as "weird" to be particularly fascinating. Because of her curiosity and desire to understand those who think differently than she does, she has spent time with them and expanded her own perspective.
The USF varsity golf star also loves a new challenge. She received an amazing opportunity to work as a college financial representative for Northwestern Mutual.
She says she has been learning a lot about the importance of insurance and the idea of building a financial life that supports herself in the future. This experience has been helping her to work on her soft skills and how to interact and customize her approach when working with different clients. She truly enjoys her team and understands the value of networking.
Camargo Torres is extremely grateful for her team, coaches, and everyone associated with the program's hard work and dedication. She describes it as a great support system full of love and commitment.
Her favorite aspect of attending USF is the beautiful surroundings, fitness and wellness department, networking events, as well as the numerous options accessible in the flourishing metropolitan area.
Next, she will be a finance and accounting summer intern at Nestle, and she couldn't be more proud to embark on this exciting opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to such a renowned global company.