In my final year at Cambridge University, I asked the professor in charge of admissions why she had accepted me. Everybody who had done well in interviews had top grades and a strong application. She said it was because my profile had stood out by being different. To her, my cross-cultural life experiences and gap year plans demonstrated the intellectual curiosity and the independent drive needed to thrive at Cambridge.
I had long felt like my travels helped me grow, preparing me for my studies and for independent life as an adult. My experiences also gave me strong examples to use when it came round to interviewing for internships and graduate jobs. In answer to questions like ‘Tell me about a time you challenged yourself’, interviewers don’t often expect to hear the candidate recount an example from living in the Amazon rainforest for 3 weeks and being the only caretaker of a rescued wild ocelot. (Curious? Ask me about it when we meet!). Holding leadership positions within university societies also advantages you in the grad job market, and successfully getting these positions requires relating to your peers, understanding different people and making sure your communication and organisation skills are top-notch. All of which can be honed through independent travel with purpose.
I was fortunate to receive a graduate job offer from a top strategy consulting firm and they agreed to give me a year off before starting. Since first landing in Brazil at the age of 18 to start my 6 month trip around South America, I have now explored 57 countries in my 12 years of independent travel. However, I know that not everybody has the time or desire to take a full year off (and that’s ok!). This is exactly why I started OTW – to condense the growth experiences I got in a year into 16 days of adventure-packed travel.
In my experience as a tutor, I have witnessed many parents, with the best intentions, take a very hands-on approach to their child’s development, often arranging their children’s entire schedules. While this is out of love and care, it is also hugely important for a student’s development to be able to manage their own time and motivate themselves, both in their studies and in their extracurricular activities. It is then less of a shock when they leave home for the first time and have to organise their own time at university. Top universities apply a lot of pressure but also give a lot of freedom. With this combination, unfortunately many unprepared students cannot cope by themselves, leading to drop-outs and retakes every year. Travelling abroad without relying on family is a challenge that will help students develop the necessary skills to flourish independently and transition to adulthood.
Often in remote destinations, I’ve found I’m the first Chinese person locals have encountered. Sharing my heritage and learning about theirs enriches us both, bridging gaps between cultures. As travellers, we become informal ambassadors for our homeland, casting our country in its true light to those we meet.
Let OTW take you on a journey that not only shows you the world but equips you with the confidence and independence that will serve you a lifetime. I look forward to adventuring with you.
Fiona Jing
景苏慧
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