Sandra Wagner | Admissions Advisor

I’m a military kid who has always had a spirit of adventure. As a child, I lived in Puerto Rico, England, California, Hawaii, and Florida. Hawaii has a place in my heart and I dream of owning a home there one day. I love everything Disney-related and have been to every Disney park in the world except for China (one day). I love singing, watching movies, going to the beach, and playing Animal crossing. I am also a huge travel nerd and have been known to do the following not in this order. Go to South Korea and visit locations off a Korean drama I watched. Go to Hobbiton, yes, In New Zealand and recreate scenes from the movie including Gollum’s ring find in an icy river, and get a tattoo in Bali after an unsuccessful surf lesson because I felt it was something Julia Roberts would have done.

I was born in Puerto Rico and quickly became a citizen of the world. Since I am from a military family I don’t have a hometown but I have lived in Florida the longest out of all places. I went to the University of Tampa and the University of South Florida. My majors were Musical Theatre and Criminology. What a fun match right? 

In 2015 I went to Munich, Germany with ONE Campaign during the G7. I went with other people from the US, Canada, and Japan. We were there to gain the attention of world leaders to agree to work to end extreme poverty and hunger by 2030. While there I met so many people younger than me that were “hopping on a flight to Rome or Paris” and I couldn’t believe this was possible. I was always told that travel was expensive and something that wasn’t attainable. Once I heard their stories I was shocked and thought, "hmmm why aren’t I doing this?" I then raced back to my hotel and started Googling something that was a dream to me... Visiting Austria. I booked a cheap train ticket and hotel and bam, I was there! The next morning I woke up and within an hour, was riding through the streets of Salzburg singing at the top of my lungs on the Sound Of Music bicycle tour. The following day I went to Bavaria and toured castles. When I got home I KNEW I had to find a way to travel the world and work. Luckily my husband felt the same way. We searched online and found ITA. I quit my job of 15 years, moved to Taiwan and the rest is history.

Iceland, France, U.K, Denmark, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, New Zealand, Cambodia. Vietnam, Mexico, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria.

I have taught in Changhua, Taiwan for five years. It was such an awesome experience. What was supposed to be “just a year abroad” turned into many more because of the opportunities we had there. During our time in Taiwan, I got to meet so many ITA alumni. They made me feel like I had a family away from home. I was able to pay off credit cards, travel to 13 countries, treat myself, and save money.

Okay, this is a two-part story because well, they are both great stories. 1) I saw a pop-up on Facebook for a musical festival in Bali and thought, “Wow, I would love to go to this.” The stage was made of recycled bottles and was on top of a pool. AKA what you see in movies. I entered a lottery for the tickets and won! Then I booked tickets and a villa for $25/night. When I arrived I cried because THIS was the moment I had been waiting for and had felt like a world traveler. 2) I went to the movies and saw Crazy Rich Asians. On the train ride back I couldn’t stop thinking about Singapore and really wanted to go there. I quickly checked the school calendar online for holidays and then just booked a flight and hotel from the train! Those moments of freedom and exploring are some I will never forget.

Hands down would have to be spicy cashew chicken with white rice. Eating authentic Thai food in Thailand is “chef's kiss”! There is nothing better and I could eat it every day. True story: I did eat it for 5 days straight on my last visit. 5 out of 5 stars.

I am excited to work for ITA because it’s a full-circle moment for me. My admissions advisor Helen, and Academic advisor Erin, are still friends of mine today. I want to do for others what they did for me. Pay it forward and help people like you reading this to follow your dreams. Whether that is teaching in-person abroad, teaching online, or taking specialty classes to supplement what you may already know. I want to be the person that sets you on a path to findest the biggest adventure of your life. I know you are ready and I can’t wait to connect with you.