The Travel Equation - How My High School Education Prepared Me For Solo Travel
This Blog Post is also submitted to the UNC-Global Gap Year Fellowship Cohort 2024-2025
In the United States, children are required to attend school or participate in some form of educational program from ages 5 to 16. This period of compulsory education is designed to provide a foundation in essential subjects such as English, Math, Science, Arts, and History or Social Studies.
While these core subjects are the building blocks for earning a GED or high school diploma, the purpose of education goes beyond the required textbook readings. All schools aim to prepare young people not only for academic accomplishments but also for future success in the workforce and as productive members of society. However, as a recent high school graduate, I can vouch that while certain lessons were invaluable, many aspects of the curriculum seemed disconnected from what I have seen apply to real-world applications. On the other hand, there were many other skills and insights that I have found to be incredibly useful in everyday life and beyond the classroom.
So, this is how I use my High School Degree…or how I don’t—in this stage of my life.
I've always had a love for school. There was something about waking up each morning, packing my school supplies, getting my lunch together, and heading out the door that filled me with a sense of excitement. As I grew older, though, and education increasingly shifted toward virtual and online learning, the way I engaged with my classes—and the relevance of what I was learning—began to change in ways I hadn’t anticipated until just recently.
In elementary and middle school, the lessons felt much more interactive. When we studied a particular topic, there was almost always a project or hands-on activity that helped make the material feel real and applicable. It was more than just memorizing facts; we were encouraged to connect what we learned to something more, something that made sense in our everyday lives. But as I transitioned into high school and then online college courses, I noticed that these types of activities became less common. Instead, the focus seemed to shift toward simply retaining content long enough to ace a quiz or pass a test. The structure of education, it seemed, was more about meeting academic benchmarks than truly applying knowledge in appropriate and meaningful ways.
I’m not saying there aren’t still teachers who make learning fun and interactive—there are. But overall, it feels like education has shifted to focus mainly on content. The older I get, the more I notice that most of what we’re taught seems to be chosen based on what’s considered important, informational, and useful rather than how it can be used in the everyday. By the time I reached high school, it often felt like the goal was just to memorize the material, take a test, and move on to the next thing. This instruction and informational content is required for graduation, but is it preparing students for life outside of school since that’s supposed to be the whole point of high school in the first place?
To dive deeper, I bring up this content not to bash American education and contradict educational requirements but to provide my personal experience as an American High School Kid.
As I mentioned earlier, I've always been THAT person who loves school. The idea of earning a high degree and being able to say I’m a "doctor" in a field—just the thought of it—is something that really excites me. I’ve always dreamed of being a “Harvard grad,” you know, the ones that are interviewed on one of those deep and boring Netflix or Discovery documentaries. So, when I think about the concept of taking a “gap year,” it almost feels like a punchline to a joke. Me? The person who was always the overachiever—active in every club, a full-time student, an athlete, a volunteer, working 15-20 hours a week—taking a whole year off to travel the world? It sounds completely out of character, doesn’t it? Now that I’m actually saying it out loud, it seems even crazier. But, here’s the thing: having the opportunity to step away from the typical school grind also makes me reflect on everything that’s been so familiar to me—everything I’ve always known as SCHOOL.
Lately, my social media feed has been completely flooded with travel content, thanks to my recent adventures. One day, I stumbled upon an Instagram reel featuring a guy in the airport. The caption read, “The only math I needed to be taught in school is travel day math. From calculating the perfect wake-up time to ensuring coffee is part of the equation, it’s all about precision and having the right formula.”
And that’s when it hit me—this is my everyday life. The reality is, what did I learn in High School that really applies to my everyday life?
This could easily be an argument made by a lot of different people—whether it's those in the workforce, college students, professional athletes, musicians, singers, or even gap year travelers like me. But here’s the thing: I believe there's more to what we learn than just the content itself. Beyond the facts and formulas, there are lessons, skills, and perspectives that students can be exposed to in High School and apply to daily life in ways we often don't expect.
Let me break it down for you, my high school class-by-class…because, surprisingly, some of it DID come in handy.
Take AP Human Geography, for instance. I learned all about different regions, land boundaries, and disputes. And you know what? I use this when I’m planning my next trip—like, figuring out where I want to go and making sure I’m not accidentally booking a flight to a place with, a territorial dispute on the side.
Then there's World History. I’ll admit, I dreaded that class, I mean I absolutely hated it. But guess what? It actually comes up when I visit historical landmarks or get into deep discussions about current events. Who knew I knew so much about Germany when I met and chatted with a colleague at my internship office?
Earth Science? I did pull out some of my notes during my Environmental Sustainability internship. You’d be amazed how much basic knowledge I need daily to make climate change graphics and post about it on social media.
Now, Chemistry... well, let’s just say I haven’t had to calculate how many moles are in a compound since but we did make homemade volcanos and the solution for the eruption…that didn’t work but at least I kind of knew what I was talking about.
Psychology and Sociology? Now, that was gold. I learned about how humans interact with each other and how culture plays a huge role in shaping decisions and behaviors. So when I meet new people from different countries, I’m the one asking all the questions about their customs and traditions
Health Sciences taught me about healthcare systems worldwide, which has come in handy when I’m thinking about how to handle a possible foreign emergency.
Spanish class? Okay, I’m not fluent, but it’s saved my life more than once when I need to read signs at the airport or communicate with my homestay family. Let’s also not talk about when I first met them I said, “Me comprendo Espanol, me no Hablo Espanol.” - That was embarrassing.
As for Math? Yeah, I’m not exactly solving for y=mx+b on my travels, but hey, maybe one day
And Art class? Well, I haven’t used the actual skills yet, but at least I can walk into a museum and nod appreciatively at the paintings like I know what I’m talking about. You can’t go wrong with a good Picasso or Leonardo Da Vinci.
So, while some classes may not have been the most useful on a day-to-day basis, there's a surprising amount of knowledge tucked away that does come in handy when I least expect it.
Not only have the classes I’ve taken expanded my knowledge, but my other high school experiences and extracurriculars have really helped me prep for the REAL world.
Take my job in food service, for example. Not only does it put money in my pocket, but it’s also turned me into a mini expert on different cuisines and dish variations. This comes in handy as I don’t need to google things on every new restaurant's menu when deciding what to order. - But lets also be honest, I googled it before going. LOL
And let’s talk about my involvement in school clubs. It wasn’t just about attending meetings and signing up to bring food. Through these clubs, I learned how to actually lead a team and manage my time like a pro. Turns out, running a club isn’t all about being the "president"—it’s about balancing deadlines, and coordinating with others about how to best be productive and accomplish goals while accommodating for others.
So yeah, while I wasn’t exactly studying for the SATs or ACT 24/7, (I got an 18 on that one BTW), these real-world experiences early in life helped me build the skills I’ll actually need. I have successfully traveled solo within the USA and in Europe (part two coming soon), navigated the VISA process on my own, obtained an internship with a highly successful and ongoing non-profit organization, and have picked up new hobbies and passions I hope to continue and grow in the future.
To wrap up what might feel like a case study on the true benefits of a high school education, let me leave you with some solid proof that it DOES have true value. Sure, the textbooks taught me the facts and helped me pass the tests, but it’s the hands-on experiences and unique opportunities that have really stuck with me. Those are the lessons I’ll carry with me forever.
And to any high school student (or really, any student) reading this: Don’t get too caught up in stressing over every textbook detail. Life doesn’t follow a set formula, and the equations won’t always add up the answers. There will be plenty of tough problems to solve, but it’s the experiences you face, the ones that challenge, teach, and shape you—that truly prepare you for what’s ahead. So, embrace it all (and take a gap year or something) because that’s where the real learning happens.
