Many Tallwood high school students have never traveled outside of their state or country. While some people travel just for vacation, my mom, traveling means much more than that. She sees traveling as a way to learn about the world, meet different people, and create memories that last forever. When I interviewed her about her interest in traveling, I learned that her experiences have changed the way she thinks about life and other cultures. Listening to her stories helped me understand why traveling is so important to her.
My mom first became interested in traveling when she was younger and watched different videos and documentaries in different cultures/countries. She said seeing different countries and cultures made her curious about the world outside of where she lived. Many of us might feel the same, especially from learning so much about other cultures in class. She also explained that growing up, she did not get many chances to travel, so when she became older, she wanted to experience those opportunities for herself. We should not feel like they are missing out on traveling at young ages because we still have so much time after high school to explore. One important thing she said during the interview was, “Traveling makes me feel free and reminds me that there’s so much more to life than staying in one place.” That quote stood out to me because it showed how deeply she cares about exploring new places.
During the interview, my mom talked about some of her travel experiences. She said she enjoys seeing famous landmarks, trying new foods, and learning how people in other places live their day to day lives. She especially likes places with beautiful scenery and warm weather because they help her relax and enjoy the moment. While talking about traveling, she smiled often and became more energetic, which showed me how passionate she is about traveling. She explained that every trip gives her a new memory and teaches her something different. All of us have the opportunity to experience new core memories from foreign places, but it is their job to act upon that and get out and experience traveling.
My mom also believes traveling helps people grow as individuals. She said “Being in a new environment can teach people to be more open-minded and understand toward each other.” According to her, traveling allows people to step outside of their comfort zones and see life from different perspectives. She mentioned that some people only know what they see around them everyday, but traveling can help them realize how different and interesting the world really is. Kids like us may even be able to learn more about each other by just visiting other lands and cultures. One thing she said that I found meaningful was, “You learn more from seeing places in person than just reading about them online.” This quote showed how strongly she believes in experiencing things in person.
Even though my mom enjoys traveling, she admitted that it is not always easy. Planning trips can be stressful and expensive, and sometimes unexpected problems can happen. However, she said the memories and experiences always make the hard parts worth it. She explained that even small trips can be meaningful because it is more about the experience than the location itself. This made me realize that traveling does not have to be perfect to still be enjoyable. We do not have to travel overseas to experience the same results, it all depends on the impact we obtain when the experience is over. At the end of the interview, I asked my mom if she would recommend traveling to others. She quickly answered “Yes.” She believes everyone should travel at least once if they have the chance because it helps people learn more about themselves and the world around them. She said traveling created memories that stay with people forever and can even change their outlook on life.
Interviewing with my mom gave me a better understanding of why traveling matters to her. Before the interview, I thought traveling was mostly about vacations and fun activities. After listening to her experiences and opinions, I realized it can also be about learning, growing, and connecting with the world and all of its vast and complicated cultures. Her passion for traveling was clear throughout the interview, and it helped me see how meaningfully those experiences can truly be.
