I knew very little about the cultures and traditions, innumerable languages, landscapes and the number of authentic dishes that belong to six out of seven continents of the world. As I grew older, I was blessed to travel throughout the world with my friends and family, and it still brings me so much joy to count the number of fridge magnets collected from places I've traveled to. Going through pictures in all those photo albums just makes me want to go back to that moment in time. We all want to discover what lies at the end of a gripping book before we even get through the initial chapters; we want to know too much before the right time; we wish to perfect the art of living before it gets too late because we all want to make the most of life. Often, we find people say that pursuing our deepest desires is what makes us full of life, and before we even get the hang of it, most of us spend our lives living it the traditional way by sticking to the same, monotonous routines.

Every summer, getting to travel to a completely different country would just make my heart grow fonder of the fact that every summer definitely did have its exceptional story. In the short span of two weeks, time would fly as fast as a fighter plane. Before I would find myself blending in with the culture, it'd be my time to catch a flight back home. Traveling has opened up the doors for me; it has made me see the different aspects of life. Travel has not only taught me to think beyond my traditional mindset, but also made me realize what is necessary and what can be neglected.

Some of us struggle to instantly make friends out of strangers. We often look at people around us and wonder, "Why can't we be as outspoken or confident as them? Oh sure, you can be funny and cheerful, but why not from the very beginning? Why do some of us have to awkwardly stand in a corner and have brief conversations everywhere we go?" Travel gives each and every one of us the opportunity to initiate conversations with fellow travelers and the locals of our destination. This not only leaves a mark of you in that place but also allows you to connect to others.

I've always been as confused and uncertain as any other person, but traveling has incorporated a different level of self-confidence in me. When I think of the person I was a few years ago, I am certainly more confident of the person I am today than I ever was. Getting the opportunity to manage so many things independently brought out a sense of achievement in me. We don't see the substantial importance of the variety of culture, people and famous places travel introduces us to. We don't understand it until the time we finally begin to experience it by ourselves. All it takes is to get out of our comfort zones, pack our bags and discover the beauty that lies out there.