Throughout my short 18 years on this planet, I have been blessed enough to live in two countries, and visit over a dozen more. For the first 14 years of my life, I lived in a small town in the UK, and in 2013 I moved to Massachusetts, USA. I have taken every opportunity possible to travel to new and exciting countries to experience new cultures and lifestyles. I strongly believe that seeing such cultural diversity has shaped me to be the person I am today. As an avid adventurer, I hate the norm. I live to see new and exciting things each time I visit a new place. This could be anything from landscapes to old towns and villages. Each place I visit holds some sort of special memory and new experience.

As human beings we are naturally curious. We love to see how different places vary from what we see as culturally normal. It is essential that we all travel to see how other people live. It develops us as people in a way that nothing else can. Leaving your comfort zone and pushing your regular boundaries is not just scary - it is exciting. Sometimes we have to face our fears head on to defeat them. I recently conquered my fear of heights by standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Because I was able to travel to such an incredible place, I was able to experience beauty that I will never forget. I climbed down to the edge and stared down at oblivion and realized, there is nothing to be scared of. I felt solid, fixed in place, one with nature. Looking back, it was probably a terrible idea, but at the time it was incredible.

Traveling is necessary in anyone’s life, whether it is within your own country or abroad, all of it influences us in some fashion. We can all learn something from new places. When I lived in England, I traveled to Spain every year. I was able to experience the Spanish culture for many years of my life. Although I don’t speak Spanish well, I do understand the Spanish culture. It’s a place that is more laid back and relaxed than the US. Everyone seems much more friendly and easy going, so communities actually feel like communities. It is a country rich in history that sticks to many traditions, and I am very fortunate to have experienced their traditions first hand. Understanding a country’s culture through firsthand experiences is something many people don’t experience, but should. That is why it is essential to travel whenever you have the opportunity.

Traveling can be hard for many people, between the cost of air fare and time off work, it can be impossible to go anywhere too exotic. America is a land that is also rich in history and culture just waiting to be explored. Use your time off wisely, save money, and go on short adventures. See places you have never seen before and experience things you have never experienced before. Try a new sport like rock climbing or mountain biking. Live life to the fullest. Make sure you travel to places you can gain experiences from, not just Holiday resorts in which you sit around a pool all day. Actually get out there and see what the world offers.

When you get old and your kids or grandkids ask what your biggest regret is, don’t let it be that you didn’t travel as much as you could have.

(Grand Canyon AZ, Sam Hansom)