People say the world is such a beautiful place, but have they actually seen it all in person? Social media today gives us the opportunity to see videos and pictures of countries, cities and towns all over the world with amazing scenery and bodies of water that most people dream to see in person.

Traveling is good for the soul, get out there and see the world for yourself.

Up until I was seventeen I had never dreamed of leaving my hometown or seeing other countries unless I was going on vacation; which was at the most once a year. Three years ago I gained an opportunity that lead me to be able to travel and live across the world. This opportunity taught me that if you really want to live your life to the fullest, you've got to take chances and travel at least once in your life.

Seeing the world and traveling was extremely beneficial for me and many other people who take the chance to see the world.

Why would it be beneficial you ask?

1. Culture awareness.
Every country has a different culture; a different way of living and a different understanding of things. To understand a culture you have to be around it for a period of time so that you can see how it works, being aware of other cultures leads to a more open mind. Traveling to different places means you'll see various cultures different to your own, when you travel somewhere and have to adjust to a countries norms it is somewhat referred to as a "culture shock." For example: If a British person traveled to America they would be required to follow the American laws, use the US dollar, and also refer to aluminum as "aluminum" if they wished to be taken seriously!
Understanding a person's culture is a way to get to know how the world works, and learn how people live a different way of life to your own and still live a successful life.

2. More friends!
When people travel they are required to communicate with strangers, especially if they are traveling alone. When I moved countries, I learned that some of these strangers turn into your best friends. The people you meet along the way can teach you many things; new languages, new facts, new knowledge from their experience, they can also teach you to find yourself. The friends you meet when traveling will become unforgettable because they have been a part of something new and different in your life. You will have more places to visit as you'll have friends from different places across the world.

3. Independency
Traveling takes a lot of responsibility for yourself, if you are traveling alone you have to plan out your days, your transportation, your lunches, and your accommodation! This may not seem like a lot but once you get planning it you will see that it can be more difficult than it seems. Being independent is not a bad thing at all, when traveling you will see that you have to make decisions for yourself and ask yourself where you want to go next and what you want to do next, when doing this you will find yourself in places you have never been before because you are discovering your own incentive.
This will help you in future situations, when making a decision on where you want to live next or where you want to be when you're older you can relate back to when you travelled places - did you like the place? Could you take care of yourself in an area like that?

4. Freedom
If you have lived in a small town your whole life, doesn't it feel like you're trapped just waiting for the next big thing to come along? That's what it felt like for me. It wasn't until I got out of my hometown and even my country that I felt like I was free to start working on my own future and my own life. Being in a different place where you don't know anyone can be difficult but it can also create a sense of freedom. You can be whoever you want to be, you can find yourself, and you can see more opportunities for yourself in the places you visit. Sometimes it is just healthy to get out of the small town you live in, get out and see different places even if this different place is just an hour down the road; you will feel more free.

Finding yourself comes under all four of these topics, it is something that everyone has to do at some point or another in their lives. What do you enjoy? Where do you want to be? What is your why? These are questions that for some people, can take a lifetime to find an answer to.

Traveling will help you answer these questions, and help you find yourself - it did for me.