There’s a magical feeling when it comes to truly seeing the world, and by “really experiencing” I mean seeing it with your own eyes, not through a screen or as someone else’s Instagram story background, breath being taken away, and feet standing in a place. The phrase “Oh, to see the world and all its beauty” is not just a nicely phrased quote on Pinterest; it is a hope, a desire, and a quiet dream that is shared by so many of us when the world seems both incredibly vast and within our reach at the same time.
For a lot of people, college is the phase when they first picture their life beyond the familiar home environment. We go to school and learn about different cultures, and nowadays we get a little glimpse through travel photos or videos. For instance, one can hardly resist the temptation of that breathtaking crystal blue sea or the streets of Japan. Even if we decide not to, due to a lack of time or money, we still crave it. It is a yearning for something bigger than ourselves, for moments that can make us feel very small yet in a wonderful way.
Travel, or simply thinking about it, somehow acts like a tutor. There are many layers of stories, smells, colors, and people in the world that we haven’t experienced yet. Through it, we understand that a beautiful scenery is not only the view of the sunset over the ocean; it can also be the vibrancy in the crowded city, the light at 2 a. m., or the happiness of strangers when they find you in their own way. No matter where you go, a place will have some kind of enchantment, and it is a small enough spark to make us realize that there is so much enchantment around us, even on the days when we are very tired.
It really is a very encouraging quality to believe that one can achieve more in the future. That in future moments one might be able to enjoy beautiful scenes, perhaps from the top of a mountain or a small cafe at a street corner of a totally new city, and think.  Having such a dream does not make you a fool but a hopeful person. It keeps someone curious about discovering new things, and it also gives one a reason to look forward to even when everything is grey or one is under pressure.
So, here we are, toasting the bucket lists, the travel boards on Pinterest, and those daydreams during class time. We raise a glass to those who desire to see and experience more than what their little world has to offer to them, and who know that there are still many beautiful sights that they have not yet discovered. At last, we present to our future selves a magnificent place, and the feeling of gratitude for never having ceased to believe that there is something out there in this world for us.