Name: Sunee Tuerr

Social Media Handle/Username: suneetuerr

Introduce Yourself/Tell About Yourself: My name is Sunee, I was born in Bangkok, Thailand. Later on, I moved to Florida and grew a passion for surfing. My dream is to become the best surfer I can be and I’m gonna keep working for it, no matter how big the wave is or how many times I fall. I’ll just get up and try again because you can’t achieve anything by giving up. The more you practice, the better you get. Which is why I’m choosing to keep practicing and surfing those waves.

What Inspires You Every day? : My parents and my friends inspire me every day.

What is some words of wisdom you live by?: I live by the quote, “When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place.”

What is your ultimate goal in life? : My ultimate goal in life is becoming the best surfer I can be.

How have you been during the pandemic and how has it affected you? : I love socializing, so it made things a little more rough but it gave me time to work myself academically and physically.

What is a message you would like to give others? : When I first started surfing, it was difficult. I would get annoyed when I didn’t catch a wave or when I fell off the board. I just wanted to hop off the board and go do something else, but that was until I realized how much I wanted to learn when I watched the other surfers surf. If you’re not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, then no one can stop you. I kept trying and trying and that is when I caught my first ever wave. I wish I could relive that moment. The feeling I had was incredible, I was filled with so much serotonin. This was the moment I knew I could never give up. After that, I would keep practicing and practicing and I got a lot better and it was because I was determined. Since I didn’t give up, I can now surf most waves with no problem and couldn’t be happier. I achieved my goal because I was determined. Patience and determination is key. It takes time to reach a goal but with that determination, nothing can stop you from reaching that goal of yours.

What else would you like to tell others about you or your life?: People would mistake my kindness for weakness then take advantage of me. That is what I don’t want to happen to any of you reading this. I was scared of conflict. No matter how scared you are of conflict, you need to stand your ground and not cave in. The less afraid you become, the less they’ll walk over you. Politely set boundaries and make sure to maintain them. If people don’t respect your boundaries, that’s when you need to walk away. Walk away from the people and things that don’t do you any good. Walk away from all the negatives and lead yourself to the positives. You know what’s best for yourself. It can be hard letting people go but a huge weight will be lifted off your shoulder and you’ll be mentally healthier.