Hello!

My name is Cassidy, and I’m a 22-year-old travel content creator based in Tampa, Florida. My journey began in 2022, during my sophomore year of college. At the time, I was deeply involved in my university and community. Leadership development and networking became my world as I wanted to find my identity beyond my grades and extracurriculars.

When the stress of being a full-time student and working four jobs at once got to me, I often daydreamed about my true passion—traveling the world. I saw content creators my age traveling, working with amazing brands, and getting paid to do it. Honestly, it pissed me off. “Why can’t I do that? That’s so unrealistic!” I had no idea how someone like me, a full-time student, could find a way to travel while affording it.

I begged my friends and family to go on trips with me, but no one was interested. One day, I just said, “F*ck it. I’m doing this, even if I have to do it alone.” I decided that I didn’t want to keep dreaming about what I wanted my life to look like; I wanted to make it my reality. I worked hard, saved my money, and took my first international trip. On this trip, I quickly realized that there are different types of tourists and that there is a BIG difference between going on vacation and traveling. 

On my trips, I found myself wanting to make friends with locals, engage in cultural activities, support small businesses, and go on wildlife excursions. Ultimately, I wanted to capture these moments through my camera and share the stories of these people and places that often go untold.

Embracing Solo Travel & Sustainability

In 2023, I returned from my trips, and people would constantly ask, “Isn’t solo travel unsafe? How did you afford this trip at your age? Where did you find all these unique activities that allowed you to engage with wildlife?” I decided that if my friends had these questions, many others probably did as well. At this time, I started creating social media content and building my travel blog to educate and inspire others to start their own travel journey.

When choosing my niche, I realized that sustainable tourism isn’t widely discussed on social media. Most people aren’t familiar with this concept, and I saw an opportunity to bring this important conversation online. Sustainable tourism considers the economic, cultural, and environmental impacts that the travel industry has on our society. It aims to meet the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and local communities.

Learning from the Experts

I started to learn everything I could about this side of tourism, which is growing tremendously as our planet, economy, and society change. I faced a challenge: how do I educate people on sustainable tourism without the preconception that sustainability and travel are associated with politics, judgment, stress, and money—things nobody wants to think about?

I knew that I needed to learn more about sustainable tourism, so I applied for a study abroad research opportunity at Oxford University. I spent four months in England collaborating with research experts and business leaders in the fields of social marketing, wildlife conservation, and hospitality. This transformative experience solidified my commitment to showcasing what the travel industry could become as our society begins to learn more about sustainability.

Creating a Community

So there you have it! While this is just the beginning of my story, I hope you’ll become a part of it. I cannot wait to continue traveling around the world and networking with people from all industries to create positive social change. Whether you’re looking to travel solo, on a budget, or study abroad, my page is where you can find the resources and inspiration you need to start your sustainable travel journey!

Until next time,