I grew up in the south of Russia and I have never been outside of the country until I left my hometown to go on an adventure of a lifetime. I won a language and leadership competition at the age of 15 and went to study abroad for a year. After spending a year in the United States my life has never been the same! During my time abroad, on my very first international trip, I discovered a new sense of independence, experienced new culture, and saw how big the world is. That’s when I knew I had to discover the world for myself.