One of my biggest accomplishments was deciding to continue my academic journey at the young age of 30. It was an internal struggle I dealt with for some time. Everything changed one day when I came to realize that age was only a number. My age did not define my capacities, or my willpower to return to school.

            Traditionally, people finish high school and go straight to a four-year university, a community college or a technical school. Instead I packed my bags, got my passport and headed abroad to a relatively new country.

            With college tuitions skyrocketing to new heights, travelling is quickly becoming an option for our youth today in age. Yet, there is also strong pressure for high school graduates to continue their education, due to the high levels of competitiveness in the real world. However, what happens to those students who have yet to select the profession they would like to pursue?

            Education is definitely an essential characteristic in life. You learn from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep. Learning is a non-stop cycle and should be explored outside the classroom, while walking through the streets, working in an office, reading a novel, listening to music and speaking with others about general topics in life. Learning occurs wherever and whenever.

            The big problem is the pressure students feel to graduate and receive their Bachelors of Arts degree. A diploma will give them additional purpose and a head start in finding a promising job that will not only allow them to be successful, but also offer stability.

            Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg all have something in common — they did not receive a diploma at a university. Nonetheless they are all successful individuals who have influenced many.

            Every individual is without a doubt different, and ultimately it is up to the individual to know if school is the correct path to walk down.

            It is not about skipping school and education, it is about exploring options, interacting with experts from different fields and giving themselves time and space to discover their true passions in life.

            Every once in awhile students will be afraid to explore the real world, so they decide to do the expected, which is college after high school. Despite the fact that taking a risk like travelling is never easy, it is beyond rewarding. Your everyday becomes a classroom setting, constantly learning and managing this amazing experience of being abroad.

            I am in favor of travelling, as it serves as an enriching learning experience, offering individuals growth and life-long learning lessons. School will always be waiting for those who decided to take a different route. Most definitely it is essential to understand that age is just a number, it does not define who you are.

            We are constantly learning, whether we are in a classroom or travelling. For those individuals who have yet to recognize what they would like to pursue, remember travelling is unquestionably a positive, life learning experience.