I think we all have moments when we must stop to wonder, “How did I get here?” This moment struck me about 6 months ago, as I stood surrounded by sheep on a grassy cliff beneath the stunning skies of New Zealand. I stood there thinking about it, really pondering how I came to be there. In Autumn of 2012, in the midst of my first semester at Dickinson, I purchased a one way ticket to Nelson, New Zealand. By the first week of January, I found myself completely alone and without much of plan half way around the planet in one of the most beautiful places on earth; this is how the journey began.

I did so many things during my travels that an exhaustive list might fill a novel or two, but in short, I made my way and I had an adventure. I kayaked in the Tasman Sea, I stayed up into the wee hours talking with people from all over the world, I farmed cattle, I camped, I bartended at a pub, I carried all of my possessions in 1 pack (incidentally the pack was a gift from my Dickinsonian friends!). I hiked in the mountains, made so many new friends, swam with the dolphins and seals, hitchhiked around the country twice, rented 2 flats and watched many sunsets and shooting stars from hostel roofs and black sand beaches, mountain tops and camper vans. To say the very least, the experiences left me awestruck.

After spending 7 months abroad, I find that I am always explaining to people how I came to my decision about leaving college to pursue a different path. Simply put, I have personally found that when I pursue the things that I really want, the things that my heart desires (excuse the cliché) the results are absolutely magnificent. I realized through my time at Dickinson, fantastic as it was, that I was not yet ready to commit to the 4-year path of study before I saw a bit of the world on my own. So I decided to go on a different adventure instead, and it proved to be arguably the best thing I have ever done.

I would like to encourage all young people who want to travel to bite the bullet and do it. College is an amazing opportunity and everyone should get the chance to experience it, yet there is no reason that you need to rush into higher education. I am absolutely thrilled that I can go to college, but even more thrilled that I can study when I am ready so that I can get the utmost out of my experience Because that’s what college is about after all.

Since my trip, I am carrying on pursuing the things I am passionate about but with so much more understanding of the world and the people in it and most importantly, a much greater understanding of who I am and where I stand in the world. I have never been really keen on giving advice, but now that I have some quality things to say, I tell everyone I meet to “Do the things that you really want and don’t be too afraid to venture out, it might just be the best thing you will do”.