Brett Keeley

What are your central passion(s), and how do you plan to pursue them after graduation?

Learning has truly been my passion. If I could stay at Flagler and complete all the majors and minors here, I absolutely would. Throughout my time at Flagler, I have been able to explore all the different learning possibilities, pairing my Spanish major with International Studies, Pre-Law, and the French certificate. This gave me plenty of opportunities to explore my education and really make the most of my experience here at Flagler. I plan to eventually complete a master’s degree and a Ph.D. Being a student has always been important to me, and it is something I hope to continue in the future. I also plan to teach French and Spanish at the middle and high school levels and hope to share my passion for learning and teaching to inspire younger students to enjoy learning as much as I do. 

Another passion of mine has been travel. I grew up traveling with my family, trying to see and explore as much as possible. This journey continued throughout my time at Flagler. At the end of my first year, I traveled to Lisbon, Portugal, with Dr. Miller to learn about Portuguese history and explore modern-day Lisbon. Later, I completed my FlagSHIP to Spain and Morocco with Dr. Woodhouse in the spring of 2023. We traveled to various cities across Spain, including Madrid, Córdoba, Sevilla, and Granada. After our whirlwind experience traveling through Andalucía, we took the ferry from Tarifa, Spain, to Tangier, Morocco. We traveled from Tangier to Fès, Chefchaouen, Marrakech, Casablanca, and Rabat. The experience was life-changing and inspired me to keep traveling and experiencing new cultures and countries. The next year, in the spring of 2024, I spent the semester at the University of Granada in Granada, Spain. I took my courses at El Centro de Lenguas Modernas, which is a section of UGR, and the student body is largely international. I also had the opportunity to live with a host family, travel around Europe on the weekends and during breaks, and make memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. To conclude my travels at Flagler, I joined Dr. Johnson and the Honors Program in Würzburg, Germany, to complete the Monuments and Memories course. This inspiring opportunity allowed me to work with other Flagler students and a handful of German students to complete a project showcasing two monuments, one in St. Augustine and the other in Würzburg, to show their interconnectedness and differences. 

Both learning and traveling are some of my central passions that I have been able to develop further at Flagler, and they are absolutely areas that I will continue to develop in the future. I will treat every experience as a learning opportunity and continue to travel the world and learn from my various experiences abroad. 

Who or what inspired your passion in this area?  

When I was younger, my favorite book series was “The Magic Treehouse” by Mary Pope Osborne. I loved listening to the stories that Jack and Annie shared, especially the stories about the ocean. Their travels and tales inspired me to create my own adventures and explore the world on my own. My family always inspired me to keep learning and traveling, even if it meant driving several hours to a new state or traveling to a new country to help me "check it off the list." 

My high school teachers and professors at Flagler have also been instrumental figures in my life. The first Spanish class I took was in high school with Señora Ana Lombardo. It was in her class that I fell in love with the Spanish language and decided that I wanted to keep studying it through high school and later through college. My French teacher, Madame Bernadette Ewane, later inspired me to learn French and encouraged me to keep studying languages through my time in college. 

Finally, my professors at Flagler have made my journey better than I ever could have imagined. Dean Dawson, Dr. Cremona, Dr. Van Zwoll, Dr. Kauffman, Dr. Butler, Professor Johnson, and Dr. Charoni have all helped guide me through my time here, whether it was an advising question, an academic question, or simply for advice. They have truly made all the difference. 

This journey would not have been possible without my family, in addition to the lifelong friendships, mentorships, and connections that I have made both at Flagler and in the St. Augustine community. 

Can you share a memorable story from your time at Flagler that always makes you smile? 

I am so fortunate to have had so many experiences at Flagler that made me smile. It is hard to choose just one, but the memories that stand out are in Hanke Hall. Being an ambassador is something I always wanted to do—I remember my mom telling me I should be an ambassador for my school when I was touring colleges. When I had the opportunity, I was so excited to join, and Philadelphia Zimmermann was instrumental in my experience as a Flagler Ambassador. I remember when I initially interviewed, she asked me, "If you were a kitchen appliance, which would you be?" I told her I would be a fork because I really like the word for fork in Spanish (el tenedor). This defines my experience as an ambassador—it was always high energy, chaotic, and Hanke Hall became my second home. Hanke was the place on campus I could go to in any situation, whether it was the best day of my Flagler experience or the worst, someone was there to support me. Some of my favorite times in Hanke include working as a summer ambassador, working as the Engagement Liaison on the Leadership Council, and our events, like Deck the Hanke Halls. The ambassador program has provided me with a second family, a place where I can be myself and have a good time. It has truly given me the confidence to explore the unknown and enjoy the journey. 

Which academic resources, experiences, or mentors at Flagler were most valuable to you, and how did they contribute to your success? 

The academics at Flagler are what brought me here. I was looking for a school that was small, with a community and small class sizes. It was what I was familiar with coming from a smaller high school, and I knew it was the best learning environment for me. My first college class was COR 182: Life on a Pale Blue Dot with Dr. Kauffman, and from that day, I knew I wanted to continue taking International Studies and Political Science classes. Later, I would take classes to complete my Spanish major and French certificate, working closely with Dr. Charoni, and both professors have had valuable impacts on my experience at Flagler. 

Dr. Van Zwoll has also been a mentor to me throughout my time at Flagler, both working as a World Language Tutor in the LRC and as an Embedded Tutor in French language courses. She has guided me through the tutoring process and provided insight into what it will be like to teach a foreign language, which will be valuable as I teach after graduating from Flagler College. 

What advice or lesson would you give to your freshman year self about the college experience?  

There is nothing to worry about! You will find your friends, and there are countless opportunities waiting for you. Enjoy every moment because it goes fast! 

In the Flagler spirit, how do you hope to make history after graduation? Share any exciting experiences, professional positions, or unique opportunities you have lined up. 

I plan to teach World Language at Corbett Preparatory School in Tampa after graduation. Both teaching and world language have been central passions, and I am looking forward to sharing this passion with students. I also hope to eventually continue with my education, with my end goal being a Ph.D.