Change Yourself…Change The World.

Seeing all of these amazing pictures and hearing about these amazing experiences, you are probably wondering what this crazy girl is up to and how she gets to travel to so many amazing places at once.

Well, I have to give this explanation to just about everyone, so here it is: I go to a very special school in the United States for my bachelor’s program. It is called Global College of Long Island University , and it is the only school in the country where you can travel for 3.5 years of your residency (the last semester is a capstone at the Brooklyn Center).

There are different centers all over the world (Costa Rica, India, China, South Africa, Japan, Australia). Freshman year students go to Costa Rica, sophomores choose between India or China, and then junior year students can either go to Australia, or a special program called the CRC program (Comparative Religion and Culture), which travels to Taiwan, Thailand, India, and Turkey in one year. I did the CRC program last year, so this is why I have had the opportunity to travel to these places. This year, I am in Costa Rica and Paraguay for my Independent Study Semester. During breaks I’ve had the opportunity to travel to other amazing countries outside of the prescribed program. So basically, while most Americans are getting their bachelors in the US, I am getting mine… abroad. Everywhere around the world, with a degree in Global Studies.

And when you’ve been traveling for so long, once you find ways to get abroad, you find REASONS to stay abroad- whether it’s through an internship, a couch surfing conquest, or bumming around with family and friends.

I know that I am incredibly lucky to have so many awesome experiences. All I can say is, if you’re a US student, it is within YOUR means also. Go to Global College!! Or get a plane ticket and go Couch Surfing across Europe! Or apply to Carpe Diem International and go on an amazing journey.

The best piece of advice I can give to someone is to get out there and travel, and get to know who you are.  And as cheesy as this sounds, I believe this to be true- if you can change yourself, you can change the world.