Letter: ?Travel while you still can

TO THE EDITOR:

I find it ironic that I gained a profound perspective on my time abroad while sitting in my room in Spain on a perfectly nice day while wasting time on Facebook.

I was updating my information, and under the section entitled life events, alongside the space to share when you got married, moved to a new city and started a new job, was a space to share when and where you studied abroad.

This made me think about the importance of what I am doing.

This is an opportunity which many people will never have; not only to do anything as profound as change a worldview or alter a personality completely, but simply to experience.

That is the true value of studying abroad, of traveling in general — experiences.

Whether it is for academic, personal or humanitarian reasons, the opportunity to experience something you would not otherwise have a chance to is not something to be taken lightly.

Even more, there is no time like now.

The opportunity to travel and experience before the outside world has claimed your time, energy and, most importantly, your desire.

Everyone says they want to travel, but youth truly yearn to travel.

Youth have yet to fully develop their thoughts and their opinions.

They have the opportunity to develop themselves through the lens of the wider world, and studying abroad and traveling the world is the way to accomplish this.

I have learned more walking around cities where I did not understand a single word anyone said to me than I ever could in any classroom.

Culture is not something to be studied — it’s something to be experienced.

If one never takes the time to experience new things, there is no possibility for them to change their view.

Experience everything you can so you won’t miss out on discovering something about yourself which you could have.

Travel while you’re young, while you can, because you many never get the chance again for the rest of your life. 

Justin Lackey ’16

Biology

Sevilla, Spain