Laugh. Love. Create. Travel. Eat.

National Geographic Travel Scholarship 2013- Prayers from Japan

Japan | Tuesday, June 25, 2013 | flickr photos

The chill of cloudless Australian mornings is a warm kiss to Greenlanders but I’d brave worse for the chance to get there. I want to dazzle you but my mind returns to a resonating quote from an article on the regrets of the dying: “I wish I'd had the courage to live true to myself." Last month, a consulting firm offered me a prosperous graduate position. Expected. Yes. Wanted? I don't know. With hope, I turned them down.

The internal battle of practicality and passion still rages. What do I want? It’s simplistically complex- I want a license to travel the world photographing, eating, laughing and creating memories. I want to capture the true essence of moments, places and people. I want to showcase the beauty of this world to those who cannot see it. I want to be paid to do something I love and that I find happiness in. I couldn't regret such a true life.

However, my internal determination will only take me so far in achieving all of this. I still have a lot of room to grow and I need the concrete skills to back up my dreams. It will take a lot of hard work but I can do it with the opportunities and education provided by the National Geographic Travel Photography Scholarship.