Owner Direct Vacation Rentals Study Away Scholarship 2022 – Winning Essay by Mattea Kott

We don’t have control over a lot of things in our life. A phone call, knock on the door, or a trip to the store can change our lives in unfathomable ways. What we do have control over, is what we do with the time that we have. The best way to spend that time is to travel with friends and family. There is a massive world out there to explore and learn about, cherished memories to share, and only one life to live, so why not make the most of it while we can? As wisely said by Donna Sherridan, “I don’t know what my future holds, but the world is wide and I want to make some memories”.

Earth is composed of seven continents, one hundred and ninety five countries, ten thousand cities and over seven point seven billion people, all with different stories, cultures, and lessons to share. We can spend a lifetime reading and watching documentaries on lives different from ours, but there is no more enjoyable way to learn than to immerse ourselves into these cultures. What better way is there to do so than with the people that we love. By traveling with friends or family we have the beautiful opportunity to learn and gain new perspectives and practices. We can learn to appreciate more cultures and see outstanding things that we may not see in our daily lives. With so much earth to see and such a little time to do so, it is almost a waste to spend it all in one spot.

Travel can be a life changing experience. Whether you ‘Eat Pray Love’ your way across Europe or take a family trip to a safari, or even a bachelorette in Nashville, the memories made with your loved ones will last a lifetime. It is important to cherish the people that we care about and traveling with them is the best way to do that.

Traveling is also linked to better health and wellness. It is linked to a decrease in stress, anxiety, and lowers the chance of developing heart disease. It is linked to higher intelligence as well as cultural understanding. It can make you appreciate the things you have and your home. It can teach you how to live your life in new ways. Spending time with friends and family is shown to also decrease stress and increase positive self worth and self confidence. Now if you combine those two things it is essentially like kale for your soul.

Why it is the best way to spend time to me is that I will make the money back, but I will never be eighteen again and I don’t have these people forever, or this time forever. In 50 years I won’t be sitting thinking that I wish I didn’t go to Costa Rica, or wish that I spent less time with my grandpa. I have to, we all have to, live our lives to the fullest and never take the opportunities to do so for granted.

We are so fortunate to live on a planet with so many unique people and places to see and it is a beautiful thing to spend your time seeing it with people who matter. It is truly, and undeniably the best way to spend our time. Making memories, sharing stories, learning more, becoming better every day. It is so incredible and leaves such an impact that I can’t even conceptualize it into words. If you are so lucky to have the opportunity to see a new place with people you value, take that opportunity because you never know what comes next.

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