Growing up with two parents as pilots, traveling has always been something that I have been immensely interested in. As a child, I always wanted to explore anywhere I could, go on any trip I could, and always find adventure, even if it was in my own backyard.

Despite growing up around people who define themselves as professional travelers, I didn't have the opportunity to travel outside of the country until my freshman year at the University of Georgia. For a week during Spring Break, I got to travel with 26 strangers to London, England with UGA's first ever Connect Abroad program. Even though this was my first time abroad, and I knew virtually no one, I was confident in my traveling ability and was determined to make this trip unforgettable.

“Unforgettable” is certainly an adjective I would describe the trip, because I got arrested. Yes, I brought pepper spray into Windsor Castle in my little cream bag without a second thought that it might be illegal. They detained me, ran me through their system, and made sure I have a permanent record in the UK. My bedazzled pepper spray was taken away from me, and therefore, my sense of security. I was released within the hour, and was playfully teased by my friends the rest of the trip.

My trip to London taught me many things: independence from following my parents around on our travels all these years, the lesson that actions do, in fact, have consequences, and that despite all that had happened, I still love to travel. I'm a firm believer in exploring outside of your comfort zone, because when you step into a place of unknown, you get the greatest chance to grow and learn. Coming to UGA from a small high school was one of the biggest transitions of my life, but each day I'm glad I chose to go here rather than a smaller college closer to home. Whether I'm traveling, or finding something new to try out, my hope is that I grow each day and become more of the person that God intended me to be.