25 by 25

Hello lovely humans!

If you know me, I’m sure you know how much I love to travel and venture around the world. I have a divine affinity for meeting new people, exploring new places and experiencing new cultures. My absolute favorite part about traveling is not only discovering this amazing and beautiful world we live in, but also discovering new things about myself along the way.

In my junior year of college when I studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain, I made a goal for myself. I said that by age 25, I would travel through 25 countries. Some of you may think, “that’s crazy,” but I’m already at 17 and counting! It was important for me to set this goal to fuel my ambition and motivation to see the world. I have created a vision board with all of the places that I want to travel to and things that I want to accomplish in life. When I look at it everyday, I am reminded of my goals and where I'm heading. If you have not made a vision board yet, I suggest you do so!

Traveling doesn't have to be difficult or overly expensive. With a little bit of planning and an optimistic attitude, anything is possible! When we travel, we are able to gain new perspectives, an interactive education and most importantly, learn things about ourselves that we didn't know before. Some of my favorite trips have been the ones that I spontaneously booked on a whim. Of course it's nice to visit the famous historical attractions, but I find that getting lost on small side streets helps give a better understanding of where I am. Having a plan is helpful, but I always leave room for surprises and free time to explore.

You’re probably wondering where I've been. So far I have spent time in . . . Italy, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Greece, England, Canada, Nicaragua, France, Australia, Curaçao, Turks and Caicos, Dominican Republic, Czech Republic, USA and Bahamas. Each and every trip has been an entirely different experience. They range from family vacations to college spring breaks and mission trips with my university to study abroad weekend getaways. During my time studying abroad, I kept a travel blog, which you can check out here!

Your next question might be, where to next? My current desire is to venture through Central and South America to participate in volunteer work. I have always loved the Spanish language and Latin American culture and want to help those in need in these impoverished countries. Volunteering abroad has allowed for me to build relationships with locals, immerse into their daily lives and provide a humbling travel experience. Who's coming with me?

Life is about taking opportunities and making memories along the way.

PEACE&LOVE

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