At roughly 11 years old, I told my mom I wanted to be a pilot. She followed up with an incredibly important question: “What about flying airplanes inspires you?” I immediately began blabbing about wanting to meet new people, try new things and explore the world.
My mom shook her head. “You don’t want to be a pilot,” she said. “You can do all those things without being in charge of the airplane.”
Now, I don’t think you could pay me enough money to learn how to fly a plane.
Instead, I found a way to explore and share the beauty I encountered while on study abroad experiences through photography. My experiences abroad have taught me how to embrace new experiences that scare me. They have taught me how this inspiring — yet terrifying — planet we call home is also full of love and beauty. Photography has been a conduit for my appreciation of the world.
Thanks to scholarships, I have traveled to the United Arab Emirates, Peru and New Zealand while attending the U. This photo story offers a small assortment of photographs I’ve taken to try to capture a portion of these wonders.
Though each of the three countries was not perfect, these trips served as a reminder that the world is not always a dark and hopeless place.
I encourage you to apply for study abroad programs. Apply for scholarships to support your journey. Regardless of whether you are graduating or not, try to make travel — both near and far — a part of your life.
You will learn and grow in ways that staying cozy at home will not provide. Better yet, find a way to share what you have discovered with others.
