Growing up, the thought of traveling abroad had never crossed my mind. My
family did not have a history of traveling to foreign lands, in fact, we had a history of living on a small island and staying there. In high school, people told stories of going on cruises, or taking trips to Europe, or visiting places that seemed far away like Florida, or California. But I never experienced these things until 19, when I first experienced a trip that was further than the tri-state area. I had an opportunity to live in Texas for 6 months, followed by living in Southern California for 4 years. During this time, I finally traveled overseas, but it was more for business and less for pleasure. Once I moved back to New Jersey in 2016, it appeared that my traveling days were over. Then, in Spring of 2018 I received an opportunity of a lifetime and had the chance to go and travel all through Greece and the island of Ithaca for 12 days, PAID FOR. It was such an experience. I then was able to go again the following fall, first thanks to a class that is offered at Stockton titled Worlds of Homer. And the second time was with a Professor in the Arts and Humanities Department with some pretty spectacular people. I fell in love with traveling, and now want to put my passport to the best use it can be used. The reason I am sharing this with you is because if you have the opportunity to travel abroad, JUMP at it. Brush off any fears, or doubts, or negative thoughts and just go. Buy that passport, and set goals to see the world. Experience other cultures and countries. Don't just be tourist and see what it is you traveled to see, take the path less traveled and see whatever it is you see. It may seem impossible in college, but there are many study abroad programs, countless faculty led programs, and some courses that have a traveling aspect to it. But if you can, save money and create your own plans to go where you truly want to go. Learn from others all around the world, immerse yourself into diversity and do not judge. It is a freeing experience and one that reminds you that there is a reason your heart is pumping. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad
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