Having grown up in Rhode Island —the smallest state in the US — I’ve wanted to explore spunky city centers, breathtaking sceneries, and colorful buildings for as long as I can remember. My teenage years were strongly characterized by the itch to experience life outside of my bubble and even influenced my decision to attend a huge university for undergrad. But that itch began much earlier when as a kid, my sister, mother, and I would travel halfway across the world every other year to visit my mother’s family in Hong Kong. I loved being immersed in a different culture, learning about traditions and history, and seeing the bustling city life. And I was eager for more.

My appreciation for new and different experiences grew during my semester abroad in London. Being an exchange student in a foreign country where I knew no one was seriously outside my comfort zone, and it challenged me to better know and love myself. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I was forced — for the first time in my life, really — to learn to embrace adventure, spontaneity, and being alone with myself.