Take the Leap
When I was around ten, I was in my backyard with my neighbor and I asked her a question that’s stuck with me ever since.
“Do you ever feel like you were meant for something more?”
She smiled and said no.
I didn’t know why that answer scared me, but it did. Even at that age, I couldn’t imagine living a life where “no” was the final answer to that question. I wasn’t even really old enough to know what “more” meant at that age I just always wanted to be special.
The Comfort Tax
Most people think risk means doing something. Dropping out. Moving abroad. Starting from scratch.
But there’s another kind of risk we rarely talk about — the cost of staying comfortable.
Every time you don’t take a chance, you pay what I call “The Comfort Tax.”
You pay with your time as you trade months for credentials you don’t use.
You pay with your clarity as routine makes it harder to see what actually matters to you.
You pay with your energy, as your curiosity fades under the weight of what’s “normal.”
The Myth of Falling Behind
So many people my age are terrified of falling behind if they don’t go to school right away. But behind what?
A timeline someone else invented? A race that doesn’t even have a finish line?
Yes — college can be fun. Parties, friends, campus energy, connections for the future. I’m not hating on that. But I think there’s more to life than that chapter alone. I’m not as extreme as some people who drop out entirely, but I believe in balance.
I’m taking online community college because it lets me work, save, and travel — all at once. I still get my education, but I also get to live. Spending $50,000 a year for two years of GEDs and required classes doesn’t make sense to me when the world is literally out there waiting.
Once You’ve Seen the World
After living two years abroad in Germany, coming home was harder than I expected. Once you’ve seen the world — once you’ve lived differently — it’s hard to go back to what you used to call “normal.”
It almost felt like a step backward, like going back to the beginning of my story when I had already moved on. But being home gave me something I didn’t have before, perspective. I worked for over a year, learned what I value, and realized that clarity only comes after you take the leap — not before.
Now I’m ready to go again. I’m moving to New Zealand in 3 months, not to run away, but to move forward.
The New Equation
Past generations didn’t have the internet or the same access to information we do. They didn’t know what was out there. Today, our problem isn’t a lack of knowledge — it’s an overflow of it.
There are so many paths that it’s easy to freeze and take none. But the truth is, the world has never been more open.
You can work remotely, study online, travel cheaply, and build something of your own — all at the same time. The only thing holding most people back isn’t money or opportunity. It’s hesitation.
Ask Yourself
What would you do if you stopped worrying about “falling behind”?
What would it look like to chase what excites you? (logistically)
What’s one “safe” habit in your life you could swap for a small risk that excites you?
The longer you wait, the more expensive the Comfort Tax gets.
The Leap
Every experience is a good experience if you learn from it. The leap might not always take you where you expect, but it will always take you somewhere new.
Remember: The leap doesn’t guarantee success — it guarantees change. Go meet the version of yourself who’s taken the leap.