As someone who will be stuck in humid NYC this summer, I, like many of us, wish for days when I can experience life outside of the city. Free from homework and school, traveling offers a unique opportunity for students to learn outside of a classroom environment and broaden their horizons. Youth tourism is a popular activity, with teens and young adults consisting of over 20% of all tourists. The popularity of tourism among young people may seem odd due to young people’s general lack of financial stability and therefore, independence, but it makes sense considering the crescendo in a teen’s desire to explore and learn about the world.
With access to information through the internet and social media, young adults are exposed to a vast array of knowledge about different parts of the world. This knowledge sparks curiosity and fuels the desire to see those places for themselves, prompting teenagers to venture out and experience the world beyond their immediate surroundings. This combination of maturity, knowledge, and newfound freedom creates a potent catalyst for travel.
Travel offers the chance to escape from the monotony of everyday life. It provides an escape from the stresses of everyday life, offering young adults the opportunity to explore their own identities, beliefs, and values in the context of different environments and cultures. Through traveling, and meeting new people, young adults are pushed to learn how to communicate with people who hold different beliefs, lead drastically different lives, and perhaps even speak an entirely different language. The ability to adapt and communicate across cultures is a skill that young people need to be successful in the workplace and thrive in our closely connected world.
When traveling, you burst your bubble and life becomes so much bigger. Each country, city, restaurant, and people you might visit opens a new door of opportunity. An opportunity to learn something new and expand your perspective. When asked, multiple student travelers from HSMSE said that “getting to experience something entirely different from home” was their greatest reason for travel. If you’ve never traveled before, a great time to begin is in college through a study-abroad program. After all, being in a new environment, and immersing yourself in other cultures and landscapes, is an education of its own.
While the cost of travel can be a barrier, there are countless ways to make it more affordable. To be completely honest, exploring the world on a budget isn’t exactly glamorous. It most likely includes sitting in the last aisle of the plane next to the bathroom, staying in questionable hotels, and going too many days without a shower. But isn’t getting scrappy what traveling is all about when you’re young? If you’re willing to sacrifice comfort, and embrace uncertainty, the world is yours to discover.
The true value of travel lies in the transformative experiences and lifelong memories it provides. By embracing the desire to explore other cultures and places, young adults can embark on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth that will leave a lasting benefit, or at the very least give them many stories to tell.