"It was exciting and busy - I had my apartment and a great job."
But family trauma had triggered her underlying anxiety before she left for Australia.
Anxiety gripped her so hard that it took some time to unravel.
"I've been anxious all my life but it was only diagnosed when I was 21."
Almost two years later, she's home and well again and life is brighter for her. "It's been a tough journey but my prescription is movement, meditation and motivation."
She made her way home to Kerikeri and, with the support of friends and family, became well again and determined to create a special space for young adults.
The business was named to reflect the Maori understanding of foundation. Ms Potts has teamed up with yoga instructor Lara Pressdee from AKA Yoga and the store is at 1341 Bull Rd.
Ms Potts was chosen from 47 applications from the Upper Northland and was one of 12 regional scholarships awarded in New Zealand.
She was awarded $5000 and the passionate entrepreneur could bag the same amount again at the AMP Scholarships National Awards on December 4.
Tony Walker, of AMP Dynamics, said Ms Potts' business proposal filled a gap in the market for holistic health practices for young people with depression and anxiety.
"We're proud to be able to offer her a chance to get her own clever idea off the ground, while helping young people in our region cope with their darker days," he said.
Ms Potts said she was looking forward to helping people "design a lifestyle that gets them out of bed in the morning with a smile on their face and the knowledge in their head that they can do anything they put their mind to".
She wants to use the scholarship funds to renovate the building and fit out the space with equipment and stock.