For the probable vast majority of you that don't know me, I'm Evan Madden; a recent graduate of The University of Toledo, and delightfully mediocre in just about all facets of my life. Like many other students within the fields of business, communication or - God forbid - English, I spent the latter portion of my collegiate career essentially in paralyzing fear of the real world. It's the broad application of these studies that makes for a relatively terrifying first experience in the job market, and even after securing a decent "Big-Boy Job" in my field of Journalism, I still felt the inevitable, Jesus, is this what the rest of my life is going to be like?, creeping in. So naturally, I responded fairly irresponsibly.

I pulled the trigger on a flight out of the country -- one way. Yeah, it may be a bit of a drastic response, but ultimately I knew I needed a change of pace and what better time to do it than when free from the burden of education and a long-time job? Reflecting on the idea of a big move, I came to the conclusion that post-graduation was the perfect (and damn-near only) time to make a wild, slightly irresponsible change in lifestyle.

So here I am, attempting to condense my life - my livelihood - into 50 pounds or less, to schlep halfway across the world... And I wouldn't have it any other way. Going full speed towards the unknown, embracing the uncertain and the abnormal is a powerful sensation. There should be an adventure at some point in everyone's life. At the end of the day, what are you waiting for?

Life is a beautiful thing, and the best part of it all is that there's always more to see, more to learn and more to experience. Every day of the 23 years I've spent on planet Earth I've learned something, met someone, or gone somewhere that has ultimately shaped me into the person I am today. Finding fun in spontaneity and embracing change define character, shaping us as people - and to travel is to embody it all... So quit reading already! Get out there and venture out to the unknown, you'll probably find out a lot about yourself in the process. Well, that, or maybe you'll end up homeless.