I think I was born with a curse. Since I was very young I have always wanted to travel. I would read books about foreign countries or different cities throughout North America. My curse-the travel bug.

I heard stories from my friends about their family vacations to California, Brazil, Mexico, England or Florida.

But with the economic status of my family, vacation consisted of going to see a St. Louis Cardinals’ baseball game or a trip to see the nearest relative in Indiana or Wisconsin.

But this never ebbed the hunger I had for adventures in foreign areas.

I would cut out pictures from National Geographic and hang them on the walls of my room; and I kept a journal of the places I wanted to travel to when I got older.

Once I arrived on Eastern’s campus in the Fall of 2007 I started to hear stories about studying abroad. I knew from the first second I heard about this I was eventually going to go on a trip.

Every year since then, I have told myself I would travel one semester.

And yet, here I am in my last semester and I have never gone on one of these trips.

I also thought in college I would become a seasoned traveler with stories and pictures to share about foreign places.

Since graduating from high school I have certainly traveled more than I ever had in the past.

In the summer of 2009 I took my first plane ride to Washington, D.C., for a wonderful full week’s vacation with my family, and during spring break of 2010 I flew to San Francisco with one of my good friends.

Both trips were amazing-great people, great places, great food, great adventures.

But I still have not even made a dent in the list of places I want to go.

I always heard that one’s college years are the best time to travel; most students have few responsibilities and are without a career in full swing.

But students still have the ability to fund a trip by cheap budgeting, receiving financial aid and working weekend jobs.

So, in my last semester, with my college traveling moments surely behind me, I would like to offer advice to those who are also cursed with the travel bug.

Go on the adventures. Don’t wait.

The trip may seem expensive or too time-consuming. Go anyway. If you are like me the expenses will surely be worth the experience.

Whether your journey is a study-abroad trip or traveling for your own adventure without course credit, it is important to take the chance before graduating.

Kayleigh Zyskowski is a senior journalism major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or

[email protected].