This summer, for three weeks, I traveled to five countries alone. I was a 19-year-old college sophomore.

I got a lot of surprised reactions when I told people I was planning to do this but it was something I really wanted to do.

Somewhere in between jumping from hostel to hostel and experiencing everything Europe has to offer in a minuscule time frame, l ended my trip feeling more comfortable in my own skin than I ever had before, because of all the amazing things I gained from traveling solo.

Do you like hanging out with yourself? If not, maybe don't do this.

You will learn a lot about yourself when traveling alone.

In your years as a blooming adult, you change immensely—whether that change be subtle or not. Some important things I learned were how I react in unfamiliar contexts, my ability to step out of my comfort zone, and my capacity to navigate unfamiliar territory where I am unfamiliar with the native language.

The countries I traveled to were France, Italy, Spain, the U.K. and the Netherlands.

Another reason why traveling alone might be the best option for you is that nothing can hold you back from the things you want to do.

Nothing can hold you back from what you want to do when you travel alone. Everything is on your time.

You can immerse yourself in the country’s culture, with minimal distractions.

I am a rather social person, but that does not mean that I am not shy.

For example, there was a time when I was terrified to do a pub-crawl in Camden, London, alone, but I ended up leaving the experience with a plethora of new friends.

Or there was a time that I was nervous to hike the Cinque Terre in Italy alone, afraid of the difficulties of the several mile long hikes, but it was the best experience I ever had, along with the most beautiful views.

You aren’t going to meet someone in a backpacker hostel that doesn’t have a story. Everyone is interesting, and probably there to meet new people, and try new things: just like yourself. They also might come from a country completely different from your own.

Stepping out of your comfort zone and traveling solo can lead you down amazing paths.

While living in the U.S., it is easy to be trapped in a comfort bubble and forget about what is going on in the rest of the world. I am fortunate to come from the U.S., but there is truly so much more out there to explore.

When you begin to explore unfamiliar countries with cultures different from your own, your perspective alters. You gain respect for other people who share the same world that you do, although their lifestyles and beliefs may differ from your own. And when you are traveling alone, it is easier to realize how big the world really is, and the importance of empathizing with others.

What I advise you to do if you’re interested in solo travel is check out Hostel World, and book a backpacking hostel whatever country you're traveling to that stands out to you.

You will meet interesting people, experience unique and new things, and take away knowledge about the world, and yourself.