The first time I ever got on a plane was in 2006. I was nine years old, and I was so excited. I was especially excited because I was living out every kid's dream—I was going to freaking Disney World. Sure, I had been to another state before, but never on a plane, and never to somewhere like Florida.

Most people are scared to fly at first, and then get more comfortable each time they fly. Thanks to a string of poorly-timed meals and being 30,000 feet in the air, I turned out to be the opposite. I suppose, psychologically, my mind started to associate air travel with vomiting, which is a bad combination. Between that and a visit to a counselor who made me believe I was afraid of heights, I became terrified of flying (like many others).

Needless to say, this fear of traveling has stopped me from, well, going places. Which, to be honest, was fine with me for a long time. All through my teens, my peers have talked so much about "traveling the world." I had to listen to a sibling talk about it, and then live it (for several weeks) all in front of me.

But recently, something has been changing. That travel bug, that undeniable urge to go somewhere, its finally catching up to me. Maybe it's because I just want to see places that aren't the state of Kansas, or maybe it's because living in fear of something isn't how I want my life to go anymore.

You don't control the world, but you control how you react to it. Things are going to happen, whether you sit there and watch or get up and take part. I refuse to live an idle life. I will not accept normal when I can have better.

I am going to die some day. If you're reading this, you will die too. (That doesn't mean my writing is that bad, it's just science). I guess what that means to me is this: If we only have this time, right now, we need to take advantage of all the great things around us. I've been afraid, and there is no shame in that. The shame comes in staying afraid, and not being able to move forward in your life. Change, adaptation; these are key parts of human nature.

I implore everyone to adopt a positive outlook for your life. Do the things you want to do, and if you go somewhere far away, maybe I'll see you.