How Apple and Auburn Played a Large Part in the Making of SurfSideSafe

Heading

When you think about building a brand-new social media platform, you probably think about long hours, writing code, fixing bugs, and dreaming big. And you would be right. But sometimes, it is the little things behind the scenes — The quiet support, the tools, and even a little school pride — That help make the big things happen. This is what happened with SurfSideSafe. And believe it or not, Apple and Auburn University both played a role in this journey.

Auburn Pride Runs Deep

Let’s start with Auburn. It’s no secret — Anyone who knows me knows I’m an Auburn fan through and through.

War Eagle!

From the moment this project started, that Tiger spirit has been part of everything I do. Auburn taught me about hard work, determination, and doing things the right way.

It also turns out that one of the biggest names in technology is also part of the Auburn family — Apple CEO Tim Cook. He graduated from Auburn, and he’s a proud Tiger just like me.

That connection might not seem like much to some people, but to me, it’s a reminder that anything is possible when you believe in what you’re doing.

How Apple Helped Make SurfSideSafe Happen

Over the last four years, Apple has been solid. Whether it was testing SurfSideSafe on iPhones, building features that work across Apple devices, or making sure the experience is smooth on iPads and Macs, Apple gave me the tools to keep moving forward.

From day one, Apple’s platforms helped me build something clean, fast, and user-friendly. That’s a big deal when you’re building a brand-new platform from scratch.

Here’s another thing that will interest you

Had it not been for Apple, there would be no App, IOS or Android, for SurfSideSafe. When the web design for SurfSideSafe was completed, the next thing was, building the Apps.

My sister, Sarah, said to me, with authority:

"Build your Apple App first!"

When she advises me, I always listen, and this was one time when listening to her really paid off.

If you’re building an App for the first time, and trying to get it approved, it’s no easy task. You can expect to get it rejected the first few times you submit it. In my case, I submitted the App five times before it was approved.

But this is where Apple came in.

Being the largest tech giant, one might think that they have a lot of people trying to get Apps approved, and won’t reach out to that one, small, aspiring entrepreneur. This was definitely not the case.

When I did my first submission, and it was rejected, the Apple support technician gave me all the attention I needed, and said to me:

"I’m going to tell you exactly what you need to do. If you listen to me, your App will be approved."

When I got my fifth email from Apple about the status of my App submission, I immediately called my sister. I said to her:

"I just got my answer from Apple."

She said, in kind of a depressed tone:

"Oh no! What did they say?"

Then I said to her:

"Well, I’m not going into detail, but the first word in the email is congratulations!"

That’s all she wanted to hear, and when I said this, she screamed. I heard something that sounded like something hitting a surface, and I think she jumped so high, she hit the ceiling.

About a week later, my Android App was approved. Had it not been for Apple helping me work out all the bugs, this wouldn't have happened.

The Future Looks Bright

SurfSideSafe is just getting started. And as we grow, I’ll always be thankful for the silent support along the way — Especially from Apple and the Auburn spirit that kept me focused.

Sometimes, it’s not just about technology. It’s about the pride, the purpose, and the people who help you on the way.

So here’s to building something amazing — And to Apple, Tim Cook and the Auburn family, who always shows up, even when you don’t expect it.

Is SurfSideSafe going to be the best social media platform? You bet!

The mentality I learned from Apple, taught to them by the greatest, Steve Jobs, and the pride of being an Auburn Tiger, have already determined that.

When you learn from the best, you will be the best!