Backpacking around Southeast Asia for six months was the wildest, most exciting thing I’ve ever done. It was nonstop adventure – riding scooters through the mountains of northern Vietnam, partying on beaches in Thailand, getting lost (and finding the best food) in the streets of Kuala Lumpur, and meeting people from every corner of the world.

I stayed in cheap hostels, took overnight buses with strangers who became friends, and learned how to live out of a backpack. Every day felt like freedom – no real plans, just following the route to the next cool spot or hidden gem. It wasn’t always easy, but it was real, raw, and honestly the best way to grow up a little while still having the time of my life.

I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. That trip gave me a kind of freedom and excitement that’s hard to find anywhere else. There’s nothing like waking up in a new place, not knowing what the day will bring, and just going with it. I know I’ll be back, back to the chaos, the calm, the people, the food, and the feeling of being completely free.