WORLD'S LEADING INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Dreamer Spotlight: Torrey Trust
English writer Joseph Addison once said, "Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for." University of Dreams alumni Torrey Trust is employing all three.
This most important thing this 2006 L.A. participant says she learned in her internship with the Athletes Agency was that she didn’t want to spend eight hours a day behind a computer, and she’s made certain that she wouldn’t. She’s a self-starter with big dreams for herself, her future, and the future of our planet.
Since June 2007, Torrey has undergone major changes and experiences in her life. She married, took finals, and graduated all in one week. She then went on a three-month honeymoon with her husband, during which they traveled to Central and South America, the Galapagos, and Antarctica. During their cruise in Antarctica, the boat she and her husband were traveling on hit an iceberg and sank, forcing all passengers to evacuate. In the midst of this, Torrey and her husband returned home to San Diego only to be evacuated for one week due to the wildfires.
But none of the near-disasters that nature threw her way made her waver in the pursuit of her dream, which is educating others regarding environmental awareness—specifically, saving the rainforests.
After a trip to Cost Rica where she noticed the effects of deforestation, Torrey did some research on the topic. She discovered that 200,000 acres of rainforest are burned every day. Appalled, she decided to make it part of her life’s work to educate others on these facts.
A surfer for the past 15 years, Torrey was inspired by UofDreams seminars and decided to start her own business that would combine two of her passions—teaching surf lessons and environmental awareness. Surf eCo is Torrey’s completely eco-friendly business, which donates profits to save acres of rainforest and also encourages others to clean up the environment around them. Torrey plans to get her master’s and doctorate degrees in education to assist her in this endeavor as well. Her long-term dreams include partnering her business with local environmental organizations in her hometown of San Diego.
Torrey also hopes to find a full-time job in Student Affairs at UC San Diego. By working in Student Affairs, she plans to help students find the value in getting an internship. Even if the most valuable information they learn from their internship is that it’s not what they want to spend their life doing, at least it will be a step forward in realizing their dream. And who knows? It could even lead to helping students find something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.
