Close your eyes – imagine standing on a street corner with the smell of unfamiliar spices in the air. The road signs are foreign and their text is meaningless. Your comfort zone and everything familiar is a continent away. In this moment, you are rewiring your brain and reinventing your perspective – the new blueprint of who you are is loading………
For as long as humankind has existed, we have roamed. We’ve searched far and wide for better food, shelter and opportunities, and that hasn’t changed. What has changed is how easy it is to take flight – quite literally – to new and exciting destinations. In speed and in comfort, we get to traverse the world on a personal evolution. Travel is the catalyst that builds confidence, opens your heart and unlocks doors to possibilities you didn’t even know existed.
Start the Transformation
We are shaped by our lived experiences. What shapes us is our hometown, our culture and our everyday routine. When we travel, we shatter the lens that shapes our view of the world. We see a different way of living and we open the door to new options. Culture varies dramatically across the globe. It also differs regionally in the country where you live. Travel is about exploring outside of your day-to-day environment and it can mean going across the world or simply taking a road trip to a local area you’ve never seen. Eating street food in Bangkok, navigating the bustling subways of London, or simply sharing a meal with a family in a rural village forces you to challenge your assumptions. You begin to understand that “different” does not mean “wrong.”
Build Unshakable Confidence
Travel, with its challenges, surprises and enriching interactions, builds a unique confidence, especially in young people. It forges resilience, teaches us to trust our gut feelings, and makes our day-to-day challenges at home seem more manageable. There is a very sweet sense of triumph in navigating a train system when you can’t understand the directions or managing a foreign currency budget without going broke. These small wins build a sense of renewed capability. Now it feels as though you can do anything – especially the tedious stuff back home like starting university or interviewing for a job. You really are your own best resource and travel helps you see this!
Change the Trajectory of your Journey
Travel opens your mind to unexpected paths and a new way of doing things. The world is a big place – why spend your time only in one corner? Meet people with careers you’ve never heard of, listen to languages you’ve never spoken, open your mind to a completely different way of living. Your passport could be your ticket to a new and grander version of your future. The direction of your life can be altered by experiences you never even dreamed of having. If you’re young and don’t have many responsibilities, now is your time. Don’t be fooled into thinking you’ll “Go Later”. Adulting usually gets tougher, and the window to travel often narrows. The memories you make when travelling are priceless. They sustain you in so many ways as you navigate your life journey.
So – explore a new version of you. Get planning, get packing and get the most from opportunities you won’t find sitting at home!
Top tips for young travellers
- If you’re under 21 – Check for age restrictions when you book accommodation – some establishments have age limitations
- Carry a fully charged Power Bank – searching for maps, tickets and language translations can diminishes phone battery faster than you think
- Pack a small first aid kit and always keep essential medication on hand in cabin luggage when flying – lost luggage shouldn’t turn into a medical emergency
- Include contact details for an Emergency Contact in your wallet – in case you are injured or incapacitated on the move
- Free public WIFI has its risks – be cautious before logging into banking apps on an open network
- Lastly – Pack light – you will definitely need less than you think!