“Now I remembered that the real world was wide, and that a varied field of hopes and fears, of sensations and excitements, awaited those who had courage to go forth into its expanse.” – Charlotte Bronte
Live while you’re young. Live with no regrets. That’s what they say, isn’t it? As I sat on my couch watching the days of my winter break that once seemed endless quickly fade away, I thought of how I was wasting time that could be spent doing something more meaningful than binge watching netflix. So, after a quick google search to find the beach closest to my house, I booked an Airbnb and made impromptu plans to venture 9 hours to Charleston, South Carolina…by myself.
In my nineteen and a half years, I have never done anything as exhilarating, liberating, or enjoyable as traveling alone. I learned so much about myself in the 4 days I was gone and returned home feeling recharged and refocused just in time for the spring semester to start. Here are a few of the things I took away my first solo adventure:
Traveling alone puts you in the moment.
As I was driving unfamiliar roads, I found myself taking in the views (I-40 is breathtaking!) and not worrying about what was to come. Traveling with no itinerary led to opportunities I could have never planned ahead for and showed me how refreshing spontaneity is when no one else is there to influence your decisions. I found myself walking the streets of Downtown Charleston with no end destination in mind, hammocking on the beach in 50° weather, and even ended up doing makeup for bridal portraits taken at Boone Hall Plantation where The Notebook was filmed (s/o to my amazing airbnb hosts!). My energy was put into enjoying what was happening in those finite moments that are now some of my favorite memories.
You become comfortable with yourself.
I have always been fiercely independent and have savored alone time. But being 600 miles away from a familiar face forced me to become well-acquainted with myself and appreciate my own company more than ever before. I had to rely on my judgement and trust myself. I ate at several restaurants with no one sitting across the table from me and found my waitresses wanting to pity me or give me special attention, while I was perfectly content being captivated by my surroundings and being left alone to my thoughts. By the time I returned to my old Kentucky home, I felt enlivened: confident that I was closer to becoming the person I aspire to be.
It is a great way to meet people.
Most people do not expect a 19 year old girl to be on vacation by herself, so a lot of people conversed with me about why I was traveling and how I chose Charleston out of all places. I delighted in meeting the locals and getting a glimpse into their everyday lives, which I found enchanting. Southern hospitality was quite evident, especially when a stranger came out to help me change my (first ever) flat tire before I could even get out of my car. I found that people are generally kind and willing to talk to strangers. Several of my conversations started with, “What’s one thing I absolutely need to do before I leave Charleston?” and led to enthralling, wholesome stories.
I understand that traveling alone is not for everyone and can be frowned upon if you are a woman, but if you have ever had even the slightest desire to, I encourage you to follow that spark and do something that scares you! Being a college student is the rare time in a person’s life where there is ample time to travel that often goes to waste—I urge you to take complete advantage of it!
Travel while you can and embrace the journey. The world is magnificent and belongs to those who seek to explore it.