I usually focus here on my personal experiences with travel, the places I want to go, and why I want to go at all. But one of the most inspiring things I’ve learned about travel since working for a student travel company is that going places can help students figure out what they want to be.
As a former 17-year-old, I don’t think I was alone in not having a clue where I really wanted to go in life when I graduated high school. I think many of us tend to stumble around college, and often for several years after it, before we realize where we belong in the larger picture. The truth is, I like the idea of never giving up that feeling of endless possibilities. I think we should all be open to new goals at any moment. Unfortunately, a degree is an expensive thing to waste. And you’re way ahead in the game if you graduate with one that lines up with a very real plan.
So if you’re lucky enough to still be seventeen – or very near it, consider student travel not as an escape but as a world-wide career fair. Take this chance to see more places, to discover your aptitude for travel and to navigate the unfamiliar. New destinations can open your eyes to the streets and workplaces that hundreds and thousands of people walk every single day, which opens your mind to possibility. And besides all that vague stuff – it can give you a firsthand look at actual careers. That should be a part of any student travel tour.
Some great ideas for career observation might include fashion or art in New York City, architecture in Chicago, or creative innovation in Orlando. Seriously, Disney has some great programs for students and is a world leader in both innovation and a number of exciting careers. And I’ve had a couple fashion tours in New York City that I think would inspire anyone to consider that industry as a valid and exciting career choice.
My company has built some tours around themes like fashion and architecture, and they make a great choice if you’re looking to focus on a specific career. Along these lines, we’ve designed Law and Order tours to our nation’s capital. If you’re looking for inspiration in law enforcement, forensics, investigation, crime-fighting, espionage or homeland security, this is the tour for you.
Let’s start, for instance, with the National Cryptologic Museum where you can learn all about codes and code breaking. It’s something students may not realize they can even explore until higher education, and it can be really exciting for them. There’s also an entire museum in DC dedicated to the Drug Enforcement Administration, another worthy career choice. Other highlights on the Law-And-Order tour include The Supreme Court, the National Museum of Crime and Punishment – one of our personal favorites, and the International Spy Museum.
The Newseum was one of my favorite attractions when I visited several of the above. This news-themed museum is a celebration of journalists and the amazing headlines they’ve captured. An entire wall here projects current front pages from around the country. There’s a powerful 9/11 memorial, a portion of the Berlin Wall, and a really popular exhibit for students that’s dedicated to those who deliver the news through comedy. This medium has become extremely influential, and you only have to sit a moment in this exhibit to see why. And actually, any number of career inspiration could be sparked in this varied, comprehensive museum.
Washington D.C. is a wonderful city and has featured in several major films and television shows for its place in the fields of government, law, and order. There’s tons to take in there pertaining to crime and punishment and several different careers in the field. It’s just one destination choice for travel with a career theme, but it’s an extremely varied and powerfully inspiring choice.
