I Didn’t Know What I Wanted… So I Left
I didn’t really have a long-term plan.
Following on from Daniel’s story, here is the first interview for the Community section of our platform.
While working from a co-working space in Ho Chi Minh City, I got chatting to Sarah Collins (22), a backpacker from Boise, Idaho in the USA.
After hearing about the platform and my own story, she agreed to share hers too.
What was the moment you realised you wanted more than the “normal” path in life?
I studied communications and digital media back in the States, and I honestly thought things would just fall into place after graduation.
But when university ended, reality hit pretty quickly.
I moved back home to Boise, applied for jobs for months, and nothing felt right.
I remember sitting in my car after another interview thinking, I can’t force myself into a life I already know I don’t want.
I had some savings from working through college, so one night I booked a flight to Thailand.
I didn’t really have a long-term plan.
What fears or doubts did you have before stepping into the unknown?
I was terrified, honestly.
Not just about travelling — about disappointing people.
Everyone around me was settling into careers and moving forward in a traditional way, and I felt like I was drifting in the opposite direction.
There’s also this pressure after university where you feel like you’re supposed to suddenly become successful overnight.
Travelling felt risky, but staying where I was felt worse.
How has travel changed the way you see yourself and the world around you?
It’s made me realise how small your world can become if you never leave it.
Growing up in Idaho, life felt very structured.
There was a clear path people expected you to follow.
Travelling broke that mindset completely.
You meet people living in ways you never imagined — freelancers, artists, remote workers, people who prioritise freedom over stability.
It changed how I define success.
Was there a place or moment during your travels that shifted your perspective?
Vietnam, definitely.
I ended up spending longer here than I planned because I met so many people building online careers while travelling.
I remember sitting in a café in Da Nang thinking… nobody actually has life figured out.
That weirdly gave me comfort.
Since then, I’ve been picking up freelance graphic design work online while backpacking through Southeast Asia.
What do you think people misunderstand most about the travel lifestyle?
That it’s easy.
People see photos online and think you’re just permanently on vacation, but there’s a lot nobody sees.
Budgeting constantly, moving around, loneliness sometimes, trying to create income while figuring things out.
But I also think that uncertainty is what makes people grow.
What have you gained from this journey that money or comfort could never give you?
Perspective.
Before travelling, I thought life was about reaching milestones as quickly as possible.
Degree, career, apartment, success.
Now I think life’s more about experiences, people, and understanding yourself properly.
I still don’t know exactly where I’m heading next, but I’m okay with that now.
I think that’s the biggest thing travel gave me.
If you’d like to share your story, contribute an article, or be featured on our Community page, feel free to get in touch through the contact page or send a message via social media.
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