To Travel is to live by Taylor

To Travel is to live by Taylor - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

Hello, my name is Taylor Allen, and I’m currently a Junior at Ohio University. To some, these words are an empty statement representing my time as an undergraduate in college. To me, these words stand for the three years of my life that have shaped me immensely as a young individual. Coming from a single parent household in a small town has made for the hardest struggle, with the most rewarding outcome. I have been able to step outside of my comfort zone by traveling and emerging myself into the cultures of numerous countries. From the rural hillsides of Cambodia, to the city streets in Thailand, I have witnessed the dynamic vitality of human beings all over, as well as the complexity of life itself. If there is one thing I have learned, it’s that we should never take our life, nor our education, for granted. I have been studying Communication and Global Leadership, not for the demand of the degree in an ever-growing market, but for the continuous desire to learn from one another, as well as from oneself. Any position where I am able to encourage others to take an initiative, is a position I would find myself passionately engaged in.

I am motivated to travel abroad again because I have experienced the the identity change I’ve endured from such opportunities. Particularly, within the past year I have found that happiness is often a place, and I have never been to a place that hasn’t influenced me in some way. As I write this essay, I am recalling the constant feeling of miscommunication that occurred when I first stepped out of the country in Bangkok, Thailand. Eventually, the feeling of being uncomfortable became one I knew to well –and I liked it. A year has past since my first excursion, and I have a desire to bring back this now nostalgic feeling. Although I want to continue to learn and grow from volunteer and intern opportunities, I hope to continue being a role model for those in my home country who can’t. This summer I hope to travel to Italy to encourage higher education while advocating for travel to those who haven’t yet left their native community. I want to share my passion for growth and discovery, and encourage others to feel such passion in their own lives.

To travel is to live, and you can never stop living. In retrospect, I will never stop traveling. I am no longer the insecure naïve girl I once was; I am a strong, confident woman who feels as though she can assist all individuals or companies to find the one quality that brings them to life. As human beings, we can continue to learn from one another –as long we we open our minds to such unfamiliarity. Ironically, my sense of individual identity has been shaped by all the people around me. I hope to carry such positivity and optimism into any future workforce or business I may become a part of. I am not only motivated to intern abroad this summer, but I am also passionate for such learning experiences. I hope to inspire others to feel equally passionate and motivated about discovering our breathtakingly beautiful, and diverse world.

Thank you,