Ever since I stepped outside the state of New York, I have felt an overwhelming desire to explore new places.
I think the first time I truly experienced this was during my first vacation to Florida. I was mesmerized by the ocean and the beaches, and I immediately fell in love with the feeling of being somewhere completely different from home. There was something so exciting about packing my suitcase, getting on a plane, and knowing that I was about to experience a new place. I loved every second of being away from home and forgetting about any and all of my troubles. I could simply admire what was around me and allow myself to be fully present in the moment.
Traveling gives me a break from the version of myself that exists in my everyday routine. I am not worrying about how much homework I have to do, the exam that is coming up in a week, or my work shift that is happening later that night. I am living in the moment and experiencing what is all around me. Whether it is the ocean, the people, the excursions, or even just my family and friends, for that week, I am free of every obligation in my day-to-day life, and that is a feeling of freedom that I crave.
I have experienced this feeling on most trips that I have taken, but where I felt it most was in St. Thomas, USVI, and the Bahamas. From the second I stepped off the plane, it was like my everyday life was washed away, and things just felt different. The warm weather, crystal clear blue water, and gorgeous beaches made it easy to forget anything that was going on back home. I spent my days taking in some of the most beautiful scenery, going on amazing excursions where I got to swim with sea turtles and pigs, and enjoying the times spent and memories made with my family and friends.
There was just something special about being able to wake up in the morning and not feel a weight on my shoulders of the things I need to do that day. Knowing that I had no specific place to be at a specific time was a blessing that I didn’t know I needed. Instead, I could simply enjoy where I was and who I was with. Looking back, I think that those trips helped me realize that traveling isn’t just about seeing new places; it is about experiencing moments that you wouldn’t be able to experience anywhere else.
I don’t think my love for traveling is something that will ever go away. If anything, every trip makes me want to see what is waiting for me somewhere else. I want to travel to different states and visit my relatives. I want to explore more parts of the Caribbean with my family and friends, and I want to take a girl’s trip to Europe with my cousin.
Knowing that there is so much more out there to see makes me excited for what the future holds. I know there will always be another place to explore, another memory to make, and another adventure awaiting. For me, traveling is more than just taking a vacation; it is about experiencing new things, spending time with the people I love, and finding that feeling of freedom that made me fall in love with it in the first place.