My first taste of Wanderlust

There's a moment in ever wanderluster's life where the realization hits them. It's not always in the middle of some fantastic adventure or even in another country. If I think back on my life, I've always felt as though "home" was changing. I could feel at home just about anywhere I was: camping in the wilderness, sitting in my grandmother's kitchen, or watching the sun rise on a beach in Florida. I've always been lucky enough to travel, whether it was with my family or friends or some other opportunity. I remember hearing that I would be getting a free trip to New York City when I was a high school sophomore. As editor of the yearbook, I was given the chance to visit one of the most popular destinations in the world at the measly age of 16. To say I was excited would be an understatement.

The yearbook adviser chose my mom as our "chaperone" to accompany him, myself and the other editor on the trip. She was just as excited as I was and we immediately planned out all the places we wanted to visit. From Columbia University, the host site of the event we were attending, to the top of the Empire State Building, we pretty much saw every tourist attraction in the city. I remember standing in the middle of Times Square thinking it was a lot smaller than I pictured it in my mind. I remember riding the Ferris Wheel inside the Toys-R-Us and taking pictures with giant candy bars at Hersey.

The moment that stands out most in my mind, however, is a bit quieter than the rest. It's softer, almost like a dream. There's a spot in the giant room where immigrants used to check in that has a giant window. If you aren't looking out it, you'll miss the sight, but nearly everyone catches the Statue of Liberty caught in the window. It's this exact moment when I realized that I was more than a tourist. I was a traveler. Caught up in the feelings of all the history of the place, it's easy to think more deeply about traveling as a passion. But the feeling I found there hasn't once left me. Ever since then, I've spent every spare moment chasing it, and it's taken me to some pretty amazing places. Along the way, I've also discovered quite a bit about myself.