‘Travel the world’: something commonly placed on someone’s bucket list. I’ve spent a lot of time wondering, what exactly does it mean to travel the world?

For me, it means so much more than hopping on a plane and arriving somewhere new.

From the Australian Outback to the Northern Lights, there are so many beautiful things and exquisite places to see in the world.

My mom always called me ‘Miss Born-with-wheels’, meaning that I was constantly picking myself up to go someplace new, even if it was just a short trip to the grocery store. I never liked to stay in one place or do one particular thing for too long, even if it was something I truly loved. There is always something new, exciting, and sometimes even better out there in the world just waiting to be discovered. ~

Society often makes us believe that traveling has to begin with extraordinary international adventures, such as skiing through the Swiss Alps, Oktoberfest in Germany, or an African Safari. My love for exploring new places began on one of my family’s beloved annual vacations to Disney World. I found that no matter how many times we went back to visit, there is always something new to discover and to be excited about. My thirst for wanting more truly started with getting into the Magic Kingdom.

As I grew older, I realized there was much more to the world that I was not seeing. My parents rarely sugarcoated things that were happening in the world, because they wanted to ensure that I did not grow up in a little bubble, completely oblivious of the world I live in. By always discussing different cultures, ideologies, and places with my parents, my desire to travel grew stronger and stronger. There is no better way to experience a culture than to drop yourself right into the middle of it.

When I was about 17 years old, I went on my first international trip. My high school traditionally takes a trip to Europe every summer, but for this one summer, they chose Australia as the destination. Over the course of my trip, I learned the vernacular and cultural expectations, and developed a unique palate for their cuisine. I fell madly in love with the country, and did not want to leave.

Whether it was fireworks at Disney World, or the shores of Australia, I found something different about myself when I was doing something new in a place I was anxious to explore.

Traveling took places I could imagine only in my wildest dreams and let my retina devour them. Traveling allows me to take my life where I want it to go, make decisions I wouldn’t normally make, and learn about myself and others along the way. Traveling will help me find my purpose in the world, and then discover how to act on that purpose.

I got all of this by hopping a plane and arriving somewhere new.