White Coat to Wanderlust: Why this Pharmacist Decided to Take an Adult Gap Year to Solo Travel the World
From dispensing prescriptions to exploring destinations, it’s an unexpected plot twist, but one I’m excited to embrace. If you know me, welcome to my first-ever blog post (yay!). If not, same thing but also welcome to my corner of the internet.
Are you curious why a pharmacist would swap her white coat for a carry-on backpack? That’s a valid question. Let’s delve into the reasons I’ve decided to press the pause button on my career in favor of world travel and a gap year adventure.
To fulfill a childhood dream of exploration and adventure
As a kid, I loved watching this Disney promotional VHS tape (millennial alert lol) featuring kids excitedly traveling to Disney World. Coming from a modest background, this was my only window to the world of travel, and going to Disney World was my biggest 6-year-old travel dream.
After a trip to Disney at age 10, I developed the desire to explore and see places I didn’t think were accessible to lower-income kids like me (a desire for exploration and adventure, if you will). It became my mission to find ways to explore destinations and prove that travel was for everyone – no matter your socioeconomic status. Lastly, this trip fulfills a promise to the younger me that someday, you too can travel the world.
To satisfy my desire for long-term travel/slow travel since volunteering in 2018
In 2018, I volunteered in Ecuador, supporting community development and NGOs. While there, I connected with locals, experienced the culture, shared meals, attended birthday parties, played soccer/football with the children at my volunteer site (they kicked my butt!), frequented my favorite café, and established a routine away from home. I had the freedom to design my weekend experiences without the time constraint of the typical “two-week vacation” and it was liberating.
It wasn’t just about visiting tourist attractions for me; it was about forging genuine connections and gaining a deeper understanding of the world around me. Despite traveling to various destinations since Ecuador, I felt limited by vacation time. I wanted the flexibility to savor moments without rushing back to work. I wanted to recapture the sense of freedom experienced in Ecuador.
I knew that the next time I decided to travel, long-term, slow travel was a must. My experience volunteering laid the foundation for the slow travel of this trip. Currently, I’m writing this blog post at a cafe in Portugal. I have plenty of time to explore the area because I’m in no rush. I’m just vibing. Just how I love it.
To Nurture my interests outside of my career
Supporting my interests outside of my career was essential to this decision. Life moves fast, and as I transitioned from my twenties to my thirties, I realized the importance of that phrase. When I turned 30 in Morocco, I asked myself, ‘Why am I not doing more of THIS?’ For years, I’ve had the desire to solo travel the world, and I had no real excuses for why I hadn’t yet other than the thought that ‘no one I know has done this.’
That wasn’t a good enough excuse anymore, so I made a promise to myself to fulfill this dream before turning 31. While I cherished my career, I needed to seize the opportunity to explore while I was solely responsible for myself. I know my decision may seem unconventional, but following my inner calling was stronger than any doubt. Prioritizing my well-being and happiness is paramount at this phase of my life. If not now, then when?
To travel in my youth and stop putting things off until “later”
Life is unpredictable. There’s never an “ideal time” and tomorrow is never promised. Life is constantly evolving and it’s up to me to seize the opportunities that exist between “I can’t do that” and “ I want to do that” and turn them into a reality. I decided to take action and pursue my dreams while I still had the freedom, the health, and the youth to do so on my terms.
My purpose for this blog
Document: Time flies! Wouldn’t it be cool to have a place to look back on my trip around the world? That place is here! This is a unique experience for me, and I want a place to record my thoughts and feelings so I can look back on this time fondly and recount the beautiful memories that I’m creating.
Dispense Inspiration: My tagline “dispensing inspiration” was born from my career as a pharmacist (duh lol) and my desire to inspire others to take chances, remain open-minded about life, and find ways to paint life’s beautiful stories with cool plots twists – if books can do it, so can people.
I hope to inspire other burnt-out career women to reinvest in themselves and the dreams they hold dear – it’s okay to take a break. I hope to highlight my experiences as a solo black female traveler and inspire others to not be afraid to create their journeys in whatever way that looks to them.
Dare to be yourself: There is no “one size fits all” way to live life. Life is short. Success is subjective. Everyone is winging it – no one knows the correct answer to the test. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you’ll appreciate the beauty in waking up and choosing every day to be exactly who you are. Those who vibe with you will, and those who don’t, won’t, and that’s a blessing too. This is what my heart wanted so I did it. What does your heart want?
In conclusion
Every day is a new opportunity for growth and transformation. I hope my journey and this blog inspire you to revisit forgotten passions and embrace new adventures. Thank you for joining me on this adventure – it means a lot! Don’t be shy! Say hello in the comments below. Let’s keep the journey going together.