Traveling is more than just visiting new places and taking aesthetic photos; it is a transformative experience that broadens horizons and shapes perspectives. At Southern Nazarene University (SNU), both staff and students have found that their travels have profoundly impacted their lives. Rosario Garcia, Student Support Services (SSS) Financial Literacy and Retention Specialist, has had the privilege of traveling to many countries including Austria, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Mexico. Apart from traveling for pleasure, she has also done missionary work in Arizona and Eswatini. She believes that these experiences have allowed her the opportunity to connect with diverse communities and better understand their successes and challenges.
When asked if she could share a memorable experience from her trips, Garcia reminisced about the quality time she had with her son while they were visiting Mount Pilatus in Switzerland. She recalled the unforgettable ride to and from the mountain as well as the beautiful sights. Additionally, Garcia talked about a profound experience that she had while visiting a concentration camp in Germany. She felt deeply moved by all the history and suffering that had occurred there saying, “This visit deepened my awareness of past atrocities and instilled a commitment to advocate for tolerance and understanding among different cultures. It serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of hatred and discrimination, urging me to contribute positively to society and work towards ensuring that such history is never repeated.”
At the top of Garcia’s bucket list is Japan due to its “fascinating mix of ancient traditions and cutting-edge modernity.” She also dreams of visiting other historically and culturally rich locations such as Rome, Greece, China, and Egypt. The advice she would offer anyone hesitant to travel is to consider how valuable those experiences would be. “Traveling exposes you to new cultures and viewpoints. You can learn in a way that you can not in a classroom.” She emphasizes that traveling will change how one sees life and create life-long memories.
Alayna Bryson, a senior vocal music education major, also communicates her knowledge and experiences with traveling. Bryson has traveled to many states in the United States, including Alaska, for missionary work with SNU In Missions (SIMS). She has also traveled with the SIMS teams to Ecuador and Morocco. Traveling in this setting has helped her come to terms with biases she did not even know existed, allowing her to walk away from places completely different. Her journeys have also given her the chance to be in a community with individuals who have completely different backgrounds from her, which has impacted her personal growth.
Of all her travels, the one that Bryson found most impactful was her mission trip to Morocco last summer. She said that this trip built her understanding of the challenges the people she met on the trip were facing. She also recalled a special moment sharing when her host mother, “put henna on our hands and explained what a great honor it is because it only happens for weddings or very special occasions, and they wanted us to feel special.”
Bryson highly encourages others to travel, whether it is for fun or for mission work. She believes that it can expand a person’s mind to the reality of how privileged we are and how much we take for granted. She adds to this by insisting, “Traveling will grow and break you a lot. Again, with all our privileges in mind, traveling breaks down your pride.”
Bryson also validates hesitations that can come with traveling. Finances and language barriers are two factors that can understandably lead individuals to avoid traveling, but Bryson believes that you cannot put a price on the memories you will make. She believes that sometimes you have to be willing to sit in the uncomfortable or else you will miss out on the beauty of community during these adventurous times. She stated, “If you need a reason to go, just do it…Seeing people who are eager to experience the world and cannot is so disheartening.”
Bryson hopes to return to some of the places she has already been to, but she also wants to continue exploring new horizons. She mentions she would love to go to national parks here in the U.S., go hiking, and see more of God’s creation. Lastly, she expresses her desire to travel to Croatia to experience the fun culture and community her parents have told her all about. She explains how her parents have traveled there before and how they loved the loud and sarcastic charm that the people of Croatia carried.
The transformative power of travel is evident in the stories of Bryson and Garcia. Their memories feature how stepping into unknown environments, embracing diverse cultures, and facing unfamiliar challenges can lead to significant personal growth and an understanding of the world. These journeys have enriched their lives and inspired them to keep exploring and learning. Through their experiences, we see that traveling is an integral part of fostering growth, seeing new perspectives, and getting more connected with the world.
Photo by: Brisa Lopez