Four long months of taping myself from an extended arm’s length with over 330 takes, building an online presence, fine tuning videos and photographs, following copious amounts of blogs and websites, squeezing the charitable juices out of my friends to get more exposure and views…and it all came to fruition.
Thank you all for making me a 2009 STA World Traveler Intern!
Congratulations to the following people: Kelly Doyle-Mace for winning an internship in Barcelona, Brandon Widener for his coming Eurotrip, also Anu Rana, Bob Fawcett, Daniel Velazquez, Laura Tucker, Melissa Landry, and Nick Vivion!
It was a very exciting, emotionally draining application process, and to be considered among hundreds of applicants was a real thrill for all of us, I think I can safely say. One of the greatest parts was getting connected with these like-minded people who appreciate the hard work of other passionate people.
It takes a lot to put yourself out there for the STA clientele and friends of applicants who offer up a slew of comments ranging from flattering to constructive to hateful. What onlookers may not know is that all of us were in contact, and it made me proud to see how grateful and humbled the group was when connecting with each other. I know I’ve met a couple people I’d love to travel with some day and definitely some I will contact when I’m in their neighborhoods.
Also congratulations to: STA’s Top Twenty with Carly Otness, Calais Cervetti, Christian Quiambao, Kyle Fasanella, Jeni Stembridge, Andrew Perez, Jessie Barber, Dana Arschin, Jordan Hawes, and Rose Francois.
To submit to this competition was to pursue one of the coolest opportunities to be extended to lowly students like ourselves. Everyone who wanted it and went for it is a baller for doing so. And I’m not saying all this to be a diplomat. I applied last year…nay, I OBSESSED about this last year, so much so that I never went to bed between the time I saw the STA WTI 2008 application announcement and the time my video was completed (30+ hours later). A crushed soul I was to realize one month later that I wasn’t even eligible as a potential graduate.
If you’re heart-broken like I was, I truly recommend doing this thing anyway. Spend every cent you ever saved, sell your car, and travel the world like a champ. Life changes and becomes a whole new game after a solo RTW or a big journey.
