On any given day, the average college student is more than likely experiencing stress, on the verge of a anxiety attack, or trying to sleep (but using that very valuable time for Netflix). Why is it that we put up with it? College kids are notorious for being able to see a bigger picture -- that is, knowing the life we someday want to live. Maybe we don't all know how we're going to get there, yet, but that's besides the point. The dream is pretty standard: getting a secure and well paying job in order to experience all there is to experience and see all sights there are to see.
It's safe to say, the concept of wanderlust is widely known, but in case you don't know, it's just a fancy word to describe the strong desire to travel. Once we get a taste for it, we need more. However, we're all paying way too much for tuition and traveling is expensive. So should we be forced to stifle our craving to see the world while buried deep in studies? Should we continue to daydream of the days that we get to experience the rush of seeing incredible places and amazing new people? Absolutely not, because life really is too short. Having a pocket full of dreams with an inflexible budget isn't easy, but it is possible. We know how to work for the things we want.
We all seem to have this inability to sit still or find contentment in the same surroundings every day. How could we with 196 countries and seven billion people living on this one planet; how could we find satisfaction in sitting in one place and not even experiencing a fraction of it? To beautiful beaches, magnificent art, lively cities, and humble people our world has so much to offer.
To satisfy wanderlust as a college student you should take the time to plan out your little getaway. Impromptu trips to Timbuktu are great and all, but speaking realistically, most of us don't have the time (unfortunately not everyone is blessed with only Tuesday/Thursday classes) or the savings to dip into. Allow yourself enough time to put enough money away to do all the things you've even remotely considered doing. Put away a little bit at a time so you don't overwhelm yourself, but enough so that your bank account doesn't go negative upon your return home. Plus, planning a trip in advance just makes it that much more exciting. You cross out dates on the calendar until the saved date of departure is so close the thought of getting away for a little while is intoxicating. Don't go too crazy while your away; remember that you probably still have homework to do and, unfortunately, investing all your money in piña coladas and souvenir shirts is definitely a bad idea.
We can't all be born into the lives of Jay Alvarrez and Alexis Ren; some of us really have to work for what we want, but honestly, that almost sounds like half the fun, am I right? So when you feel like you just can't go on anymore, remember your bigger picture. In the mean time, find some really cool people to go on little weekend trips with and enjoy experiencing new things when the opportunity presents itself. We all wish to see the world one day, but take it little by little, there's enough world to go around for all of us. No one who just sat around ever got anything they wanted.
Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind you, however small. And in return life -- and travel -- leave marks on you. Anthony Bourdain.
