A year ago today I was roaming the streets of Italy, Rome with a group of people I’ve never really met before. I remember walking around with pure amazement, a little anxiousness, but mostly just pure happiness. I remember thinking that Italy would be nothing but a purely sick time and something that I would undoubtedly remember forever. Although those things remain true, I have to say I learned something much more important: the magic and importance of traveling.

I’ve always had the desire to see the world, but after you actually do, it becomes addicting. All I can think about is going somewhere else and saving up for my next trip. Being around other cultures changes you, it causes you to see the world through someone else’s eyes.

I was just talking to one of my friends who just came back from Australia for a semester. He was telling me the same thing: once you start traveling it makes you want to see the world. Unlike me, he says that he never had the desire to travel, but now, after seeing so many places, he wants to travel more. I think everyone should take the chance and travel more often.

I’ve also learned to take chances. I took a chance and went to Italy by myself and met the most amazing group of people. I’ve learned so much about myself and the world and I hope that I can do something like this again. Honestly, it is crazy how fast time goes by! It feels like I was just there but it’s actually been a year!