3 minute read
A Word From The Editor
Travel has always been a part of my soul. Growing up, my family had the opportunity to travel to a lot of different places, and that sense of adventure stuck with me. As I neared the end of high school, I knew there was one trip I needed to make—my graduation trip.
The plan was simple: a high school graduation trip to Europe with my best friends. I took the reins on planning—flights, hostels, train schedules, museums to visit—it was all mapped out, and I held a meeting with my friends and their parents, pitching this trip as the ultimate graduation celebration. Of course, we had to ask our parents because some of us weren’t even 18 yet—it just felt natural to ask for permission when we were still in the “teenager phase” of life. I even had this fancy binder full of everything they’d need to know, with color-coded tabs for their convenience (not joking). I remember our faces when they said yes. Looking back, I’m still amazed at how trusting our parents were. I suppose, at that point, they realized that pretty soon, we'd all be heading off to college, and as a parent, you have to let your kids go and trust they’ll be okay. But I still very much felt like a kid—not an adult. Yes, let’s add “relying on your barely-formed decision-making skills” to the list of essential life experiences.
The moment we landed in Switzerland, it was game on. We rented a car, hit the road, and suddenly I was overwhelmed with the thought—how in the world are we going to get anywhere? We were mostly relying on paper maps, hoping to make sense of our surroundings. But we had no fear. We were young, full of life, and ready for whatever came our way.
Over the course of four weeks, we visited 8 countries—filling our trip with the beauty and chaos of Europe. We saw The Mona Lisa (much smaller than I imagined), rode on the back of vespas through the streets of Rome, ran with the bulls in Pamplona, and experienced Amsterdam in all its glory. We had a few questionable moments along the way, some wild decisions, but that’s what made it so unforgettable. We were fearless.
If you’re reading this, and you’re far removed from those carefree high school days, I hope you can look back at your own journeys and remember what it felt like to step into the world with nothing but excitement and curiosity. Whether you’re reminiscing about your first big adventure or dreaming of your next one, remember that the kind of freedom we once felt is always within reach.
