Hello "Real World"

It's funny how now that I've graduated college and have complete independence, I almost wish I had someone telling me exactly what the next step should be! I hear the question "What do you want to do?" more than I hear my dad's reminders to "dress warm" and "be safe" (just friendly guidance from a caring father, at his defense). So what do I want to do? Great question! My jaw drops and I feel the wheels in my head spin for an answer. Well, an expected answer, that is. The one that relates to work and could be rephrased more like, “How do you plan to make money so you can do what you want to do?”. What I'd like to do right now is a pretty easy question. I think it'd be awesome to snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef. I want to learn how to surf. I want to speak Spanish fluently and use it often. I'd like to help people and make a difference. These things sound great, but is it possible to make them happen? I guess I'll find out once I try!

Now that my days of late-night study crams are over (or at least for now), I have decided to delay a “real world” job in order to pursue some of the things I'd like to do. The only barrier between accomplishing these things is having money and having time. Well, time is surely on my side! I've decided to take full advantage of it by getting a "full-time-yet-temporary" job now to make and save money, then come September I'll jump on a plane and head to... Tokyo! I'm excited to try out backpacking the world. After studying abroad in Seville, Spain and traveling throughout Europe I have an unexplainable energy and passion to see new places and try new things. Justin (my older brother) has been an excellent motivator-- his passion for travel is unlike any I've come across and it keeps me excited to do the same.


Let the money-saving and trip planning begin!