In an age where social media portrays travels, vacations accompanied by the number of likes, shares, or viral moments, some may measure success in followers or hype, but does only the essence and value of travel lie in the experiences we gather— and maybe not the digital applause we receive. Or do we need to grip hold of a messiah complex to bring us a value in success in today’s digital world.
After graduating from NYU and starting my career on Wall Street, my adventures weren’t fueled by a desire for social validation. They were deeply rooted in my love for learning and my pursuit of understanding the world. I went further, embarking on a path of lifelong education in leadership and management, with a focus on international business. Each experience, each country I explored, contributed not just to my personal growth but also to my budding travel business.
Travel has taught me invaluable lessons beyond checking destinations off a list—lessons in resilience, adaptability, and connection. As I strive to balance my studies, entrepreneurial efforts, and the joy of exploration, I recognize the importance of doing what makes us genuinely happy. Laughing, smiling, and staying fit are the spices that enhance this beautiful journey we call life.
In this world of apparent perfection and highlight reels, I remind myself that I don’t need to conform to the criteria of what makes someone’s trip “worthy” of virality. Instead, I focus on nurturing my passion for discovering, learning, and sharing. My travels have offered me rich narratives, diverse friendships, and personal growth that go far beyond public recognition.
Maybe my journey doesn’t look cool in the eyes of the digital crowd, but it is authentic. It is mine. Each step I’ve taken has been infused with purpose and pleasure, deeply connected to my studies and my aspirations. That is what fulfillment truly looks like—pursuing your passions, regardless of the applause, and the negativity from the haters.
I wrote this because just this past week, I was unsure if I even needed to write anymore. I thought I was tired of writing. I have been writing since I was a toddler to when I was editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper, and to now, as I sit in a hotel, downtown Montréal preparing myself to workout, on a Friday night at 8. I thought I needed to be seen by the masses to find meaning in travels, but because I always had a passion for words, sentences, and writing, I didn’t expect much from the world, but then I kept getting promoted for my hard work, talent and efforts. I dreamt. I worked. I closed the deals. And I kept booking tickets around the world.
Travel is very fulfilling to me. Especially when you’re getting paid with it. You know how you love to see those amazing power scenes from your favorite super hero or villain on the big screen, and everyone in the movie theater loves it, there’s a comparable feeling to being your own version of that super hero and villain while you power through your routines everyday, and wake up one day to just 1 new follower you don’t even know. Imagine millions of followers.
The reality is that, you wake up in a country that isn’t yours, grab your passport, phone, wallet, and start booking Ubers, hotel rooms, flights, airbnbs, you look for a new restaurant, and maybe make a reservation. You start planning trips. Post business offers. Send emails. Start new projects. You get a gym membership in whatever country you’re in, shut your mouth and burn that fat ass in the gym. And 15 years go by. And it never stops. You see what I mean. What could popularity do? That’s my thought.
