I have been very fortunate to travel extensively throughout the United States, while still young. I wouldn’t trade my experiences for the world, and I still have so many areas yet to visit. Based on my experiences, I recommend every young person get out of their hometown and see what’s out there. Being able to travel while I am young is not only rewarding but important for today’s generation.
Last January, I was blessed enough to travel 17 days out to the west coast. I hiked seven days on the Pacific Crest Trail in California, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon and Sedona, Arizona and snow shoed in Selida, Colorado. This adventure was an opportunity of a lifetime, but what I learned was so much more than what any degree has given me.
Traveling at a young age changes the way you relate to the world as a whole. If I hadn’t had the opportunity to travel when I was younger, I would have a difficult time envisioning much else outside my comfortable country bubble. When you travel to other countries and see this amazing beauty, you realize the world is full of more beauty than you are capable of seeing in a lifetime.
From her personal travel blog, Sarah Hansen said, “If you don’t travel when you are younger, you have less desire to venture out when you are older and have a job and family constraints in play.”
Not only will traveling at a young age change the way you relate to the world, but it will also change the way you relate to other individuals. When I got to travel, I learned about other cultures and how different they are even from coast to coast.
I realized that my life could be enriched by developing friendships with people who didn’t look or act like me. I developed friendships with people who were nothing like me or where I was from, but these friendship were exactly what I needed. This taught me to embrace, not fear, experiences and relationships that were outside my comfort zone. It also taught me the importance of communication skills.
While traveling young you gain a sense of empathy for the world around you. When you travel, you learn how much you truly have that you take for granted. You lose the insensitivity and selfish attitude that can sometimes develop when you can’t relate to that region of the world, and it compels you to help others and give back.
However, even though there are endless benefits to traveling at a young age, sometimes it’s not tangible for many young adults because of class and work. It makes time scarce and money limited. “Traveling on a student budget is never easy, but traveling while you’re a student is also the best time to go! Your pockets may be light, but don’t miss out because of budget constraints.” This is quoted by Kendall Byl, argued in a US today article titled Five tips to Travel on A Student Budget.
Even though traveling can be difficult at times for young adults, it can be accomplished through planning, saving and accepting every opportunity put in front of you.
There are numerous opportunities for traveling throughout an individual’s college career, such as studying abroad, mission trips and clubs on campus. This is a great option for any student that has a passion for traveling but has financial and personally responsibilities. Here at UW-La Crosse we are lucky enough to have Outdoor Connections (which are offering weekend trips this spring!).
I think a lot of young people put off traveling because they want to be responsible, work hard, get married, have kids and build up a life. However, I think it’s a mistake to put off traveling in exchange for the belief that you can do it when you retire and have more time. While I certainly plan to continue to travel after I retire, I also realize I am not guaranteed old age.
Therefore, take advantage of our wild young years and explore, educate and communicate throughout this beautiful world.