After moving around so much I didn't feel like I belonged anywhere because I don't seem to fit in any box. I realized that no matter who I end up being, there will always be doubters and critics. Instead of trying to hide behind a uniform of social conformity, I try to embrace that I am like a smoothie of various personalities and cultures. It took a while for me to be okay with the feeling of displacement, but I am proud to say have made it. In my career, I aspire to help others through their transitions in life.

Last week, I was making a sandwich at the pizza shop when I overheard my manager say that he has never been out of the country in all of his 67 years because he had never wanted to or even cared enough to. As an Australian who has spent their childhood in 3 countries and much time reading about various visa requirements online, this was undeniably baffling. However, what followed was the revelation that he had never had a passport because it was “too much work”. While I am grateful to have an adventurous father who took me to many delightful parts of the world, I also can understand the fear of the unknown. That truly fuels me to want to change the way we conduct abroad travels. I would make worldwide travel more accessible and affordable because I believe that all residents of Earth should have the ease, ability, and access to explore wherever they want to go. Travel has become a privilege. Ever since civilizations have evolved, our destinations have moved farther than where our legs can take us to. With the complications of passports, visas, and titles, we have restricted ourselves from fully enjoying the experiences on Earth. This is not to say we should eliminate the borders, government systems, or the laws of the lands. Although, when the world has so much to offer, the real limits of our wanderings should not be the lines drawn on our maps. In a planet where diverse humans share the globe, education is more widespread, cultural integration is enhanced, and creativity blooms. Discovering the world through so-called vacations should not be a privilege kept solely for the wealthy. Accessible and affordable transportation opens up a world of possibilities. Through travel, we authentically experience other cultures, languages, cuisines, and understand each other. Through meeting diverse people, tasting new foods, speaking new languages, dancing to a different beat, and working in new fields, we can fight ignorance and expand knowledge, empathy, and love for our Earth. By making travel affordable, we would be offering people a chance to experience a world they would have never seen otherwise. Traveling can offer new perspectives and develop open minds, therefore creating a society of progressive, kind, considerate, and educated people. Additionally, if the Earth is an environment that we want to save, we must share it. Many don't understand the passions behind those who want to eliminate climate change because they don't truly know the rest of the environment. To start, I would push programs to educate the public on global matters, travel documentation, visas, and passports. Implementing this could instill more confidence in people to step out of their homeland and experience the world. I would find means to generate more public-funded inexpensive means of transportation overseas such as planes and ships. Furthermore, I would promote more travel agencies to open up, especially in areas where internet access is limited. Finally, I would encourage people to see for themselves what the world has to offer. Affordable travel and accessible transportation are key to a utopian civilization that can thrive in unity. The power of meaningful humanistic encounters sourcing from travel and global connectivity can propel all nations to be more progressive. Everyone deserves a chance to explore past their circumstances. We may now be citizens of our respective countries, but we all are, and will always be, citizens of the respected Earth.