GirlGI | Girl Gone International Issue 9 | Page 39

If I told you I wasn’t scared or nervous I would
have been telling a big lie and the fact that I had
never met anyone else who looked like me do
something like this made me even more fearfulbut I knew I had to do this. I budgeted, planned,
made phone calls, consulted with friends and
mentors, started a blog and put a plan in action.
During my gap year I traveled to South Africa,
Hawaii, Mexico, New Orleans, Bahamas, Key West,
California, Georgia and ended 2013 by planning a
40 day solo travel trip throughout Thailand, Bali,
Australia and Fiji. Words can’t express how much
I learned last year, no I didn’t go to a formal ‘9 to 5’
everyday nor did I have a boss or coworkers, but
the lessons I learned from traveling far exceeded
anything I could have learned working in a corporate setting for 12 months.

responsible individual to obtain visas, make reservations and navigate new languages and
currencies.

3 | WRITING SKILLS
One of the first things I did when planning my
year abroad was start a blog. I wanted a way to
connect with people before, during and after my
travels. Writing is a universal skill. No matter what
level, role, or position you are in, at some point you
will be required to do some form of written
communication. I can now boast to employers
that I have over a year of writing samples on my
blog.

4 | DIVERSITY & PEOPLE SKILLS

We live in a diverse world; it is important to know
how to work with any and every one. Traveling
has given me the skills to be able to do just that.
Whether I was lost in Fiji, sick in Thailand, or
This is the question I get asked the most: ‘How
handling financial matters at the bank in South
could you afford to not work for a year?’ Well the
Korea, dealing with language barriers is
short answer to that question is extreme saving
and budgeting. I worked full time while in graduate something I am extremely comfortable with.
Imagine how comfortable I am with those that
school and lived below my means for quite some
speak my language! I believe that real life
time, which helped me save a significant amount
experience is very important and my diverse
of money. I also cut down on cable, cell phone
people skills would be an enhancement to any
bills, car insurance etc. I took advantage of every
discount and promotion I could. Smart budgeting organization.
was very important to the success of my gap year,
so I gave myself a monthly allowance, I got rid of
all major bills and I only traveled if I found a great
deal. Now, I can most certainly use my budgeting
Nothing says adaptability more than traveling to
skills in any career role I wish.
a foreign place alone! During my solo trip, I had
to adapt to places quickly, safely, and efficiently.
Most employers want to know that you will be able
to come onboard, learn the material, be independent, and adapt to the company’s environment- I
A year of traveling definitely builds universal time
can’t think of a better way to prove adaptability
management skills. On the ‘desired qualifications’ than traveling solo.
section of almost every job vacancy I see, time
management and the ability to multitask is listed. As with so many things in life, travel experiences
Travel is a great way to illustrate that you have
have taught me to push myself beyond what I
these acquired skills, as it demonstrates your
would ever have thought possible if I had just
ability to research, outline, plan and execute travel, stayed at home in the States. It can be just the
volunteer work, etc. When traveling, you have to be same for you as an YBP who wants to see the
punctual to ensure you don’t miss buses, planes
world. Get out there to travel, study, explore and
and trains. It requires an organized and
experience and by the time you get back you will

1 | BUDGET

5 | ADAPTABILITY

2 | TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS

be twice the person you were when you left!