I have longed to travel for as long as I can remember, and from my trips around the country and abroad, I have learned so much about myself and the world. I believe that traveling is an important part of our lives, especially in college when we are still trying to find ourselves and prepare for the future. In college, we have the opportunity to study abroad and experience new adventures, and traveling allows us to take advantage of our freedom and youth.

Here are 5 reasons why should travel:

1. You get out of your comfort zone

Most of us are used to the comfort of our home, family, and friends and usually have a daily routine that we follow. We tend to avoid uncomfortable and unfamiliar situations and experiences as much as possible. However, being in a foreign place causes us to lose the familiarity of our lives and forces us to open up to new possibilities. Talking to different people, eating unique foods, and embracing new cultures can seem daunting at first, but it truly helps us to grow as individuals and test what we are capable of doing.

2. You learn about new cultures

Traveling is the perfect opportunity to learn about and experience new cultures and see what the world has to offer. You have the chance to learn about the history and traditions of each place you visit. It is also an opportunity to learn a new language and try foods that are popular in a particular place. Traveling allows us to have a glimpse into how other people around the world lead their lives. Last summer, I traveled around Eastern Europe and it was really interesting to see how different their culture was compared to ours.

3. You expand your knowledge of the world

Living in the our own bubble sometimes prevents us from understanding how other parts of the world function. Traveling lets us connect with a diverse group of people and brings light to serious problems we never even knew about. We are able to empathize with those from different parts of the world and understand life from their perspective. Traveling also helps us to get rid of the preconceived notions we may have regarding a particular place or group of people.

4. You can connect more with your families

Traveling as a family can bring everyone closer and create some amazing lifelong memories that you can all cherish. One of my favorite vacations with my family was when we went on a cruise to Mexico and got to explore one of the cities there. Family vacations are important because we rarely can take time out of our crazy lives and spend quality time with one another.

5. You appreciate the beauty of the world

There is so much beauty and wonder in the world and we should try to embrace and experience as much of it as we possibly can. Traveling to different parts of the world can show you a life and place you never even imagined. "We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us." Take a chance and go explore the crazy, beautiful, and fascinating world around us!