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OPINION
NIXSON BENITEZ Executive Editor
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 |
NORTHERNIOWAN.COM
|
VOLUME 118, ISSUE 7
Disclaimer: The opinions featured in The Northern Iowan do not reflect the views of The Northern Iowan staff as a whole.
Second First Impressions BRITTANY KALVIG Opinion Columnist
There are various destinations to visit and yet only a select few of the younger generations decide to travel instead of going to college after high school. Going into four more years of college after high school can be extremely stressful. According to Green Heart Travel, traveling takes you out of your comfort zone, builds confidence, develops cultural sensitivity and expands networking. As said in their website, “Being aware of cultural values and norms is not only fascinating, but can help us understand international issues and conflicts, or even relate to the cultural norms of a foreign business partner.” UNI student Sydney Laures says, “If I could go back in time, before I started college, I would travel. After graduating high school, you’re still young and it can be too early to decide what that idea for the future looks like.” Without the stress of going places, we look forward to always staying in one place, home. As the growth of our minds become single-minded and closed to the world of opportunities, we never see what possibilities and risks
could be taken. Sometimes it’s meeting new people, getting over the fear of heights or even learning a new language all together. Ann from SAC says, “There are so many different places to get your education alongside UNI education and it opens up the education experience from other countries.” Keeping that in mind, we see other UNI students traveling while going to college without discouragement. Faculty encourage students to expand their horizons to other schools around the world while attending UNI since it is within their college tuition. What about those who have not gone to college at all? Well, The Blonde Abroad, AKA Kiki, says, “I was taught to go to college, get a job, get married, have kids and live happily ever after. Not once did I consider that chasing the societal idea of ‘success’ would lead me to an unfulfilling and unhappy life.” The Blonde Abroad has been to 71 countries and over 980,500 miles have been traveled. Looking into that more, not many people have the money or even the will to go different countries. It’s the opening of the mind to different cultures, learning new languages and becoming a
more well-rounded person overall that helps our society circulate. Some places offer more than what the United States can offer when it comes to nature, scenery and, sometimes, people. Who knows who you could meet walking down the street of Venice or having a drink on a pier in Columbia? Another SAC student says, “I remember getting my passport and being ready to see a new view of how people live.” There are also different kinds of trip you can go on according to The Blonde Abroad, such as solo travel, female travel, adventure travel, luxury travel, eco travel and even volunteer travel. Traveling alone can be empowering, connecting and sharing experiences with others. It brings a new sense of life and virtue. Going to different places can be overwhelming at times, but from my experiences from traveling I got to open my eyes to a different world everywhere I went. At times, it felt like a culture shock, and other times it felt like that is where I belonged. Over time, I didn’t forget where I came from and who I grew up with, but it was ultimately a test to see how much my mind could expand to other opportunities.
Nixson Benítez
Traveling the world and exploring cultural identity are ways to explore more about yourself.
Dr. Seuss has a famous saying; “Oh the places you’ll go.” Many of us take that with us every day because our life takes us somewhere new every day. Traveling is not a “way out” of college, but a way into a whole new adventure. Keep in mind, everyone decides to choose their own path and
Aspire to Inspire
together. On Monday, Sept. 13, Opinion Columnist Spaz, senior student and the outspoken president of The Movement, provided their Look, see the world insight on the matter, stating around you, all the clubs, that prior to COVID-19. sports and people. Think and “(The Movement) was a lot take a moment to process this more organized, and everypast year and all its tragic one came and worked hard, events; now breathe. but once COVID hit the club We have entered a new almost died.” era, the action of rebuilding, However, they continued the hopes of growing, and by saying, “The hardest part new interpretations of the about being back in person goals of the future, of what is having deadlines to meet we can become. again. But the easiest part is The vague series of questhat this feels natural. This tions still remains, hanging is where we are supposed to over our heads, like paying be. We are rebuilding and are bills or studying for exams. pumped for homecoming.” What has changed? Was it We are one, all rewriting our work ethic, or our confithe same truth, and that sense, dence? Why can’t the world the importance of unity, cango back to the way it was? not be stressed enough. You The answer lies deep withdo not have to do this alone. in your consciousness, buried Read the previous line again, under the sands of grief and and then one more time. Junior loss and can only be uncovand resident assistance (RA) Nixson Benítez ered if we face this new reality Luigi Lopez experienced a Inspiring others helps navigate challenges, especially in unprecedented DIEGO SOLORIO
times.
what they want to do in their lives. Ultimately, I say, GO FOR IT! Do something crazy and wild. There is only one life, and it’s this one. Take that jump, and take yourself somewhere you have always wanted to go explore.
similar obstacle while navigating through these unprecedented times. He stated on Tuesday, Sept. 14, that despite having, “trouble with commitment and laziness” during quarantine, he was able to transition back to in person with the help of campus experiences, roommates and friends. With a figurative shovel in his hand, he was able to dig past the previous year to find his personal truth. This is the beginning of an endless journey, dictated by the internal conflict within ourselves, and is resolved through the powers of realization and implementation. Be an ally and an inspiration to those who struggle to believe in themselves. If you give yourself and those around you the love and care everyone deserves, you will find that there is no cap to what we can all achieve. We are in this together.
