by Nick Mourtoupalas ’13

We are born onto this planet, our home, yet we are limited to its few continents. Individuals just like yourself share identical feelings, but are fated to another side of the same world. Those who witness what is beyond their home return with something more than photos; they bring with them an irreplaceable collection of mental records of the different ways people talk, think and act.

For many of us, that home is Olney, Maryland: a town many people my age whine about for its lack of excitement and excess of places to get fat. All the newest attractions, when they actually arrive, fester with prepubescent giggles, leaving no room for insatiable high school students itching to get their Friday night fix.

I ask of you, get out of here, not just out of Olney, but out of the state. Although I find Olney a great place to spend most of my teen years, no adolescent should have to stay in a single place for that long. Even if the only way out of the state is staying with your vexing relatives for a week in Texas, take the opportunity. One man’s Olney is another man’s treasure.

So many teenagers fail to see all the intangible incentives of traveling, even to the most uneventful locales. Just as knowing a second language helps you to more deeply understand another culture, seeing first-hand the way different people act widens one’s understanding of the human “universal language,” or simply the behaviors people exhibit regardless of their background.

Over time, a backlog of information gathered from around the world forms and you become that much closer to social nirvana, enabling you to adapt to new cultures and make better relationships with ease. You may end up getting a job on the other side of the country one day, and knowing beforehand the personality of the city and its people could determine what job you get, and ultimately, if you are happy.

Traveling the world at the age of 17 is not all that attainable; however available methods of seeing the world beyond Olney certainly exist, including registering for Sherwood’s spring break trip, participating in exchange programs or planning to study abroad in college. These options are pricey, but they allow you to travel with your friends and make sure you actually learn something along the way.

Discovering the world develops a very special appreciation for the stories people have to tell and a new sense of sympathy for others people’s problems. Mental treasures such as these are quickly reflected in one’s behavior and speech. There is an ocean of opportunities out there just waiting to be explored, so dive in.