During my senior year of high school, I promised myself I would have an unforgettable summer before going off to college. I wanted more than just a short trip to the beach and a few bonfires with friends. After months of convincing our parents and nonstop planning, three of my friends and I came up with the perfect itinerary for a road trip out west. We packed our bags and began our long journey from Knoxville, Tennessee to Los Angeles, California. Those 19 days on the road opened my mind and taught me many valuable lessons.

First of all, you learn a whole lot about your friends when you are with them for almost three weeks straight. You have some weird conversations and hear crazy stories. You'll scream at each other and then laugh about it five minutes later. By the end of it all, you'll most likely want to kill each other, but it's all out of love.

Anytime you have the opportunity to sit down and eat a nice meal, do it. Although the McDonald's dollar menu is nice and convenient, you'll get tired of it after the fifth day in a row. Plus, it's always fun to try new places that you don't always get a chance to go to.

Prepare for all kinds of weather. Don't pack only shorts and t-shirts because you think it's going to be warm everywhere you go. You'll really be regretting it when you're camping and it's suddenly 30 degrees and you're so cold you can't even move, although it might make for a funny story later on.

Unfortunately, something will most likely go wrong along the way. Whether the car breaks down, you get a speeding ticket or you find yourself staying in a sketchy motel because you couldn't find a room anywhere else, at some point during the trip you'll begin to have some doubts. Just remember that regardless of the situation, you're making memories.

Most importantly, take time to enjoy the little things. Some of the best moments from my entire trip were the priceless conversations we had on long drives and sitting around a campfire making ramen noodles. Taking a long road trip is most definitely tiring, but completely worth it. You will see some incredible things and meet awesome people. You'll have experiences that you can talk about for years to come. So when you sit down to plan your next big excursion, stray away from the normal vacation spot and take a road trip instead. Get a group of friends and go somewhere you've never been. You may just learn something about yourself and have a little fun while doing it.