Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliana Gonzalez
Hi Juliana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I moved to San Diego, California in June 2017 and haven’t looked back. I moved 2 & 1/2 weeks from Florida after accepting a job offer, without knowing anyone here, and without ever having visited San Diego before. It’s been my adventure ever since.
To meet people, I quickly researched if there were any FSU alumni groups in California – little did I know, there was a San Diego Seminole Club, with a main watch bar in Pacific Beach! I would drive every Saturday during football season from San Marcos to Pacific Beach to be surrounded by fellow Noles, submerged in FSU game talk and warchants, and feel a little piece of “home.”
I quickly became an active board member, followed by Vice President, and now President since 2021. Our club was founded in 2013 by Jeanette Watkins-Jungreis. She put forth her determination and love for FSU to bring Garnet and Gold to the Golden state! She did all the hard work to make our club what it is today. Ever since, we’ve had active board members including, Elizabeth Ward as our Vice President, David Delbrueck as our running Treasurer, and Justin Wilson & Stephanie Delbrueck as active board members.
We hold annual service days (Beach clean up in Pacific Beach in March), annual kickoff events such as our rivalry Cornhole tournament held in Liberty Station NTC Park where we invite other local Florida alumni clubs and local rivalry school alumni clubs to join us, we host game day watching parties at two different locations (the SD TapRoom in Pacific Beach as our main watch bar, and Weir Beer Brewery in Vista as our North County location. We’ll also be expanding to Weir Brewery once they open later this year which is owned by FSU alumni). We also through various networking events and will host our first holiday party this year.
Our community is strong and friendly, win or lose and all year long!
In the first few days of moving here, I noticed a rivalry license plate holder, another school in Florida, and I thought (although they are one of our biggest rivals), they understand the coast to coast move, leaving everything and everyone you know behind to create your own California dream. We all have that commonality, and thus the idea for Rivalry Cornhole was born! It’s a chance to network and find a home away from our original home.
On a personal note, I’ve completely fallen in love with San Diego. I started my own social media marketing company last year, which specializes in local San Diego businesses and will be expanding to travel companies. I help manage my client’s social media platforms, strategize a marketing plan, and create resonating and eye-popping content in the form of graphics and reels.
I celebrate my “California Anniversary” every year, which signifies the day I moved to San Diego and started a new exciting chapter. Celebrations include popping a bottle of my favorite sparking rosé I discovered at a Temecula winery, Callaway, on my apartment balcony, surrounded by plant trees and beautiful sunny skies. As I look back on 7 years ago, as I loaded up my 3 suitcases on the airport cart, looked around at my new surroundings I’d soon call “home,” I remember embracing the unknown & looking forward to what the future holds. Knowing that there was this vast new life for me that I just curated for myself & being so excited to explore it.
With every year that passes, I get stronger. I’m so thankful for every single day & so blessed for the life I get to live, the place I get to live it, & the people that make it worthwhile. I feel so very fortunate that life has led me to exactly this place.
A few days before America’s Independence day, I declared my very own Independence day. One filled with the notion of “choosing myself” & letting the pieces fall as they are meant to.
My California anniversary is so meaningful to me. It’s the anniversary of going after my dream & making it happen. It was the best decision I could have ever made for myself.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
For the San Diego Seminole Club, we gather win or lose, rain or shine, for all of our football games. It can be challenging if our school doesn’t win a game, our game watching attendance will dwindle, however, we continue with our marketing efforts and remain hopeful throughout the season. We show up in our Garnet and Gold and cheer on our Noles either way!
One would think it would be challenging to run a school alumni club when our university is on the other side of the country, however, our FSUAA (Florida State University Alumni Association) is very communicative. They put forth lots of viable information every week, we have a social media leaders page that connects all the club leaders around the country, and we are in constant communication with the school.
Personally, I’ve been faced with challenges: in my past jobs, however, I always persevered and it guided me to where I am now with my own business, the pandemic that hit everyone, and missing my family back in Florida. However, we try to get together as much as we can and also have a strong communication flow amongst us all.
I’ve personally learned that if you continue to persevere, you will reach your goals. The most important lesson I’ve learned is to believe in myself!! Especially when others put their doubts on you, try to knock you down, or simply don’t think you can make it. You must believe in yourself and push all of that negativity away, and say “watch me!”
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about San Diego Seminole Club/ JM Social Media Solutions ?
San Diego Seminole Club:
We are a group of professionals from all ages and industries, who represent Florida State University here in San Diego. We gather to watch our football games every weekend, but we are also a year-round club, with our service day and network activities throughout the year. Although our university is on the other side of the country, we wear our Garnet and Gold and root on our school, as our pride and school spirit run deep within! We have alumni that visit us from different states and different parts of California just to watch the game with our San Diego Seminole Club! If you are a FSU alumni, friend, or fan and live in San Diego or happen to be visiting, please join us!
JM Social Media Solutions:
This is my personal social media marketing business. I specialize in Instagram and Facebook marketing, and can also post on TikTok. I help businesses elevate either social media presence, increase brand awareness, and create eye-catching content that stands out. I have 12+ years of experience in marketing and have a passion to help local San Diego businesses thrive. What sets me apart from others is my content creation. I bring a unique eye and put together reels and graphics that would set your business apart from your competition. I follow industry trends and implement my love for what I do, so it shines through in your content.
You can view my website at www.jmsocialsolutions.com, and reach me directly at Juliana@jmsocialsolutions.com
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
San Diego Seminole Club:
We have over 1,000 FSU alumni in the area. That’s over 1,000 connections we can make together. Our game day watching parties are welcoming and inviting. If you’re solo and watch to be around Noles, please come join us! We will make sure you feel at home and have fun!
JM Social Media Solutions:
I’m a left handed middle child with a Cuban and Israeli background. I’m a melting pot of cultures and have always found a way to be unique but stay true to myself. Which is what I do for my businesses – find a way to make them unique & stand out while also keeping the integrity of the business at the forefront.
Pricing:
- Please view my website if you’re interested in posting my package pricing for JM Social Media Solutions: www.jmsocialsolutions.com (services tab)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alumni.fsu.edu/clubs/seminole-club-san-diego
- Instagram: @sdnoles
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoSeminoleClub
- JMSMS Website: www.jmsocialsolutions.com
- JMSMS IG: @jmsocialmediasolutions and @journeywithjuliana
Image Credits
All were taken by me, Juliana Gonzalez
