Today on GoAbroad we bring you the third and final winner of the GoAbroad Cover Photo Contest and Spring Break Giveaway! Back in October, GoAbroad launched this contest as a chance for students to showcase their best travel photography on GoAbroad’s Facebook page, and be entered to win an alternative spring break volunteer trip around the world.
After a month of online voting in January, we were thrilled to see thousands of votes come in for each of the Top Entrants. Please help us congratulate our final winner of the GoAbroad Giveaway, Bailey Adkison!
Bailey’s photo from her study abroad trip to Chile won some of the highest votes in the online poll and we congratulate her on her win of the International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) trip to Peru! Check out the video below of her acceptance of the program and see what other advice she has to give to travelers!
Why did you enter the GoAbroad Giveaway?
I entered the GoAbroad Giveaway because I studied abroad and fell in love with traveling, and this was such a great opportunity to go abroad again and do meaningful work at the same time.
What are you most looking forward to experiencing in Peru with IVHQ?
I am very excited to improve my Spanish skills. I’d like to return to my community and work as either a Spanish teacher or teach English as a second language. I am also looking forward to visiting another country in South America, learning about their culture, and volunteering with children.
What’s the most enriching thing about travel for you?
The people you meet and become attached to.
When I studied abroad in Chile, my host families were really my family. I stayed with one family for only a week, but leaving was so painful because we were so close. They had welcomed me into every aspect of their life and allowed me to share in all the joy in it. It was amazing. I also enjoyed meeting children and students and learning about their lives and listening to them talk about the history and state of their country.
What advice would you give to others interested in traveling abroad?
Going abroad is definitely taking a risk, but it is so worth it!
It gives you a new perspective on the world and you learn so much about yourself in the process. I recommend finding abroad programs that really immerse you in the culture, so you become more than a tourist.
Really learn about the inner workings of a different society because through this, you come to appreciate not just the amazing sights of a country, but also the history and the struggles of the people. This promotes a more open perspective that can then expand the minds of those around you when you are back home.
Tell Us Your Thoughts About GoAbroad!
They have a lot of great connections with many study abroad programs and they really want travelers to have a meaningful experience while abroad and have fun at the same time.
