Meet Nina Gulbransen | Student, political intern and activist, Division 1 tennis player, and nature and wildlife photographer.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nina Gulbransen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nina, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
My favorite affirmation is “you can”. It may come across as rather simplistic but it has meant a lot to me over the years. I grew up in the world of competitive junior tennis, competing across the United States and internationally for many years. During that time I came to struggle with my mental health as I reached young adulthood, and that struggle translated into a severe sense of self doubt. I doubted myself competing, I doubted myself in the classroom, I doubted myself in life. This quote helped me check those doubts before they affected my performance in school, at my job, or at my internships. It helped me gain the confidence to put myself out there when I knew I was qualified to go for a position in my field or start promoting my photography work. I don’t think I would have been able to achieve what I have so far, like succeeding at my university or being chosen for top internships, without this quote. It really inspires me to take charge of what I can do.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As of right now, I am most proud of both my success at my college, Boston University, and of my role as a political affairs intern at the Borgen Project, a nonprofit focused on solving global poverty. I got to where I am at Boston University because of my dedication and work ethic in my teen years, and I got to where I am at the Borgen Project because of the confidence I gained studying at BU. In my opinion, it was incredibly hard to get to where I am. It took balancing online schooling since 2nd grade and excelling in an incredibly taxing sport for 13 years and believing in myself to gain the credentials I have today, credentials that helped me get where I am. I overcame the challenges I faced, be they mental setbacks or physical setbacks, mainly because of the people I befriended along the way. They taught me how important relationships and selflessness are in this world, and helped me not only survive dark times but come out a better person from them. I learned many lessons along the way, the most important being that a good work ethic goes a whole lot farther than raw talent. I want the world to know that although my goals and dreams pivoted to from one sphere to another, sports to politics, my story is just getting started.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I was born in Englewood, Colorado and spent the first 7 years of my life in Highlands Ranch before moving to Florida to pursue competitive tennis, but I have always felt really connected to Colorado and I believe that my love for nature comes from the experiences I had with nature in the beginning of my life in Colorado.

Well, I live in Deerfield Beach, Florida, only 15 minutes away from one of the best beaches in the country! I would definitely take them to the beach first off to enjoy the natural beauty of Florida’s coastlines, one of many features that I love from this state. That would be a whole day, and I would make a stop at Publix with them beforehand because having a PubSub on the beach is unmatched. The next day I would take them to one of our many state parks to take an easy hike strolling through the wilderness and wildlife of the area. I would have them bring any camera along that they had because that’s how I got into photography, going out into Florida’s wilderness and trying to capture it’s raw beauty. If my best friend was a water-lover I could take them paddle-boarding on the Intercoastal the next day as its one of the most peaceful ways to enjoy both the beauty of the water and the striking architecture of our Florida cities. In between all these hot activities we would have to stop for frozen custard at Whit’s Frozen Custard of Boca, just inland from the beach, because they have all the classic treats and some specialities for whatever my friend would favor! For restaurants, they would definitely have to try Oceans234 at the end of the week because their amazing ocean view and the fresh sushi they serve. The most exciting parts of Florida as a whole are, in my opinion, those that highlight the nature-scape of the area, something that I believe is worth preserving and appreciating each day you’re here.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that come to mind when I think of who had an impact on my success and future, but the first person that comes to mind is one of my childhood tennis coaches, Richard Ashby of the United States Tennis Association. As I mentioned before, I am first and foremost a tennis player. I aimed to become a professional for many years, and although that dream has yet to come true, it is my belief that the lessons I learned from tennis will continue to aid me for the rest of my life. Coach Richard became my mentor when I was 9 years old, and I came to think of him as a second father figure. He mentored me when I was having a hard time mentally, he taught me what it means to be a good person who cares for those separate from themselves, he even taught how to introduce myself with a professional handshake. He helped me realize my self value beyond my success in sports and I still think of his influence to this day.

Website: https://pages.donately.com/borgenproject/fundraiser/nina-gulbransen-s-fundraising-campaign

Instagram: @kira.maria.photography and @ninamgd8

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-gulbransen-b911b9148/

Image Credits
Matt Woolverton (first image and image with red lights), Scott Ellis (image of me hitting)