If you are a college age student, you are roughly your early 20's. Quite possible the best, scariest & craziest times of your life.
I know I have had INSANE experiences but thats for another article...... I do go to one of the schools with the best college bar in the nation but I'll leave it there.
One thing that I never realize my college years would give me is the chance to become the narrator of my own story. I have gained this from being able to travel around the world at such a young age.
I can literally turn absolutely anything into a "in Europe.." story and it is amazing to reminisce on those times.
It is AMAZING to get such an experience. Without this, you would never be able to start discussions with strangers about both traveling to France or Italy or literally WHEREEVER in the world. In that moment you share a connection with another person that no one else in the room can understand.
There is a sense of mindfulness you receive from traveling. It truly puts into position your position in the world. It doesn't matter if its going on missionary work to HatI or traveling a private jet to Paris, your traveling adds a cultural maturity that no one else but fellow travelers understand.
From that mindfulness you get the quality to step back and really think about all of the experiences you had good or bad and be able to find the humor in those situations. When you find the humor and add the backstory, BOOM! There you are a full blown story teller!
I think personally it makes me be able to have more sympathy for the world. I feel more obligated to help countries that I've been too and have seen the conditions. Isn't that something we all need? A little more love.