I was born and raised in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and by the time I graduated high school, I was ready to get out of my hometown. I knew I would be paying for college myself, so out of state options weren’t realistic with my grades and lack of scholarships. I ended up attending the University of Arkansas just three minutes from my high school.

Even then, I had a deep desire to travel and see the world. I just didn’t know how. My mom suggested studying abroad as a way to experience travel during college. The catch was that I entered college with enough credits to be a semester ahead, and my degree program (Recreation and Sports Management) didn’t offer study abroad options for upperclassmen. If I was going to go, it had to be as an underclassman, specifically as a freshman.

After a grueling first semester in the dorms, I packed my bags and left the States. In February of 2023, I studied abroad in Nicosia, Cyprus a decision that marked the beginning of my passion for travel and adventure. Living abroad pushed me into constant discomfort, and those experiences shaped me into a more confident, capable traveler. It opened my eyes to life beyond the United States and changed the way I see the world.

I’ve always had a desire to create and document adventures. In high school, I streamed and made YouTube videos (good luck finding that channel). While in Cyprus, I bought a camera I still use today and enrolled in a photography class. My passion for photography and content creation hit an all-time high. I was creating nonstop, videos, photos, stories, building my social media and photography platforms from the ground up. The goal was simple: to show others that stepping outside their comfort zone is possible, and worth it.

At nineteen, I was the youngest person in my study abroad program of forty students, but that didn’t stop me from fully embracing the experience. The people I met and the places I went are memories I’ll carry for life.

I’ve since graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Recreation and Sports Management, focusing on Outdoor Leadership. For the past two summers, I’ve worked with a Christian ministry called WayForward Adventures in Del Norte, Colorado, leading backpacking trips and living in the mountains. In the summer of 2026, I’ll be stepping into the role of Media Coordinator, creating marketing and promotional content that tells the story of life on the trail.

Looking back, I realize the fear of failure was the biggest thing holding me back from pursuing my dream. Sometimes all it takes is a single step of faith.

Get out there. Go see the world.