By Addison Gremli, Contributing Writer
People are always traveling. With social media right at our fingertips, there always seems to be new pictures popping up of where people went on vacation. Whether it is across the world to Europe, just to a neighboring state or a nearby town, people love to let others know where they are.
There is often a push for people to travel when they are young. This is easier said than done. As a young adult without a steady income or an abundance of free time, traveling seems rather impossible. It is always the question of, “does one want to work and make money to eventually gain that experience in the future?” or “does one spend the money now, gain the experience and then be able to use that to their advantage, such as applying to jobs?”
Programs at schools such as Rotary Exchange programs or study abroad programs help students gain these experiences. When applying to jobs there seems to be more of an emphasis on experience. “What experience does one have?” “How have one’s experiences made them more equipped for this position?” and so forth. Students should be taking advantage of these opportunities that the schools provide for them so that they can gain these experiences. There are often scholarships that will help with the financial aspects. Students who return home after these experiences will tell stories about how it has changed their life.
Today, it seems to be a major advantage to have been able to travel to another country, especially if one is bilingual. Being able to communicate with others helps break down language barriers. There are preconceived ideas that people have of other cultures, and when one gets to experience it for themselves, their minds suddenly become more open.
Traveling abroad or locally can give people a sense of appreciation. There’s the idea of getting outside the bubble. There are so many things that people are accustomed to doing, and they don’t have a great appreciation for their lives until they experience life outside of their comfort zones. In other countries, there are different rights and ethical ideas in place. Being able to see these in other cultures is a good way to look back on one’s own life.
When traveling, new bonds are often made; especially when traveling to another country, staying with a host family, having a tour guide or even just traveling with friends creates bonds like no other. Connecting with people when traveling is something very special. These bonds are special because people learn to open up and discover who they are. Along with this comes creating new memories.
These memories will last a lifetime and turn into stories one will forever cherish. People today are so involved with technology, but sometimes, the best thing to do is to travel and live in the moment.
gremliao18@bonaventure.edu
