Every summer, my family and I visit a super tiny country in the Middle East, Lebanon.

Every summer it was the same thing, see my family, go to the beach, and visit the mountains (something I love very much, I live for it).

Every summer my family from all over the globe meets here to love on each other and catch up.

Every summer was nothing like this summer. This summer was very different and more crucial than I ever thought a summer vacation would be needed.

I was there for two months. I was fresh out of high school, so I was being bombarded with questions I didn't even know how to answer in the beginning. Before I even decided on a major I kid you not I changed my mind what felt like a million times. I took what everyone said to heart and let the thoughts of others decide my future in the beginning but by the end of the summer, I was so confident with myself and my own decisions that I no longer let anyone influence me if it wasn't what I was looking for.

The reason this summer was so crucial to my future and my mindset was that it allowed me to not be influenced by anyone but my own self. I spent two months discovering myself and viewing a culture so different than my own, so different than what I'm used to. I’m so much older now then I was previous trips, I notice things now.

The reason I really need this was that I left my comfort zone, the crazy bubble of Katy, Texas. While I love my small town and I’m so blessed to have grown up there, I needed time away at this point in my life to start discovering myself. It was important for me to start making decisions without other people chiming in and me just allowing that.

The older I get the more I feel like I want to spend every opportunity I have, traveling. It’s the best thing you can do when you have a lot on your mind. I know it’s so cliché to say that, because everyone talks about how they want to travel the world when they are older but growing up I've been so blessed to have traveled around the globe so I know how badly I’m always craving this feeling.

I think that when given the opportunity, people need to leave their comfort zone and allow themselves to see how they thrive just on their own thoughts. I truly believe that you will find the bliss in yourself that you've been looking for while away. Your thoughts are more clear and easier to process. It’s never too late for you, whether you do this now or in 10 years. You're always growing and your mind thanks you for that.