10 reasons traveling in college will change your life

1. Travel will help you uncover what things are most important to you. Whether you realize how much you miss Chick-fil-A or you find out that material possessions are not as important as you once thought they were. Maybe you will discover how important your relationships are or that your faith is far more important than you once realized. Whatever your discovery may be, you will understand more about yourself and the values you hold close through your travels.

2. Travel will put your problems into perspective. So often we are caught up on the mistakes we make. We get stressed over exams, work, and everything in between. Traveling helps us realize how small these problems are in the grand scheme of it all. It opens our eyes to the reality that life isn't about how many A's we get (or don't get) in school but rather its about the imperfect, beautiful journey we take. 

3. Travel will teach you to live in the moment. In the 21st century, it seems like we are always caught up in our technologies. We spend hours looking at the screens of our phones checking messages, emails, and social media. Our generation is often more occupied with what is happening on our phones than what is actually happening around us. Travel takes that away from you (because you likely will not have your phone--or hopefully will not use it so much). Without these hindrances, you are able to remember the freedom and magic of embracing every moment that life gives you. Also, you will undoubtably attempt to soak up every ounce of your journey as much as possible. This moment is all that is!

4. Travel will remind you that we are all in this together. It is easy to get caught up in the competition of life. We constantly strive for the biggest pay check, the best grades, or the hottest body. Though it is good to strive for greatness, we easily get caught up in competition of our peers. Travel helps you understand that alone we are weak. It didn't take one man to build the pyramids or the Great Wall of China. No single person perfected the existence of the Italian panini. Nobody alone can achieve great things but rather we must depend on each other to become the greatest beings we can be. 

5. Travel will teach you that change is good. It is so easy to get stuck in the same routines of our daily lives. Each day, we wake up and see the same scenery on our way to work or school. We see the same people, eat many of the same foods, and watch the same shows. We are creatures of habit. However, when it comes to traveling, all routines are thrown out the window and the end result is incredible. You realize that variety truly is the spice of life. No matter how hard it is to break routine, travel will show you that it is okay--and even a good thing break routine.

6. Travel will show you how capable you are. Perhaps you are an introvert who does not like to talk to strangers. Or maybe you lack any sense of direction. Whatever your obstacle is, you will find that you are more than capable of functioning in ways you never thought possible. You will realize that you can find solutions to problems you never thought you would face. Not only will you find this to be true throughout your travels but you will realize that you are able to face any obstacles you will encounter the rest of your life.

7. Travel will make you to cherish the small details of life. When we are surrounded by the familiarity of our lives, we hardly stop to notice the little details. While we travel, everything around us seems new and exciting. From weird street signs to different colored squirrels, everything is different and refreshing. The reality is that you are just looking at life in a new way. With your new perspective you are then able to more vividly appreciate the details that surround you in your typical daily life. 

8.  Travel will show you that uncertainty is not a bad thing. You will get so lost when you travel. I repeat, you will get lost. You will have no clue how to pay for things or even how you are supposed to flush the toilet. You will be so confused when people yell at you in another language. You will undoubtably go the wrong way on the metro once or twice. Things like this happen. This is life. Although you will have no clue what you are doing, you will laugh regardless. You will embrace your uncertainty and have faith that in the end it will all work out.

9. Travel will make you understand we are all human. No matter the culture barrier, people are the same everywhere you go. Mostly kind, never perfect, but quite wonderful all the same. In reality, nobody has their life figured out just like you. Nobody is confident in everything they do. Instead, most people are just striving to life a life they love. Once they find that love, they are usually happy to share their secrets of life with you. Humans are friendly little beings. This important lesson can be taught through simple moments like the kindness of strangers, directions from an angel in disguise when you are lost, or even just a simple smile. The world is filled with 3.2 billion humans who are completely different, but also mostly the same as you. Don't forget that!

10. Travel will leave you wanting more. Your life will probably never be the same once you get a taste of travel. If you are anything like me, one small taste leaves me with a wanderlust crave that can only be quenched by more travel. Thus the cycle continues...

Travel on my friends.