Travel has always been part of my life. Growing up, my parents instilled a love for adventure, taking me on road trips and international vacations that sparked my curiosity about the world. But it wasn’t until college that I took my first solo trip—a volunteer program in the Dominican Republic for an alternative spring break. Immersing myself in the local culture while working at an orphanage was eye-opening. It wasn’t as intimidating as I feared. In fact, it was liberating.

A few years later, I spent a summer studying abroad in Florence, Italy. Living with a host family and two strangers-turned-roommates, I explored hidden gems beyond the usual tourist spots and took weekend trips, visiting other parts of Italy, Spain, and France. When the program ended, I extended my stay, traveling with my sister for a month. With no GPS and just a trusty travel guide, we navigated by train and bus, learning to embrace the unexpected.

After college, I leapt at the chance to work as a social worker in London for a year. I became close friends with a colleague and a friend who introduced me to other social circles. Navigating public transportation routinely taught me to stay aware of my surroundings and take safety precautions. When my work visa ended I decided to join a Contiki tour across Europe. This was my first experience joining a group travel tour by myself. I traveled on a bus with 30 other strangers around my age for a month visiting 12 countries! It was a whirlwind of unforgettable adventures. These experiences boosted my confidence.

I don’t consider myself to be a very extroverted person but travel awakens a side of me to connect with others through shared experiences together. I discovered yoga retreats in Croatia, Costa Rica, and Portugal. These retreats were transformative and spiritual—full of like-minded, solo travelers on a journey. At each destination I extended my stay and explored independently before or after for a week. 

After facing burnout at work, I made another bold move: teaching English in Japan for a year. Japan’s safety and rich culture drew me in, but making social connections was challenging at first. I pushed myself to attend meetup groups and joined groups like Tokyo Gaijins, which led to lifelong friendships and countless adventures that made my time in Japan truly unforgettable. I wanted to explore more of Asia before returning to the US so I traveled around Thailand and Myanmar alone and made incredible memories. I met people on tours and in hostels along the way which turned into making travel plans together.

Today, solo travel is second nature to me. Each trip has taught me to trust myself, embrace uncertainty, and find joy in the connections I make along the way. What started as small steps outside my comfort zone has grown into a lifelong passion for exploring the world on my own terms.