Hey, I’m Emma Collins!
Have you ever felt like the “right path” just wasn’t the right one for you?
Yeah, I’ve been there.
I was born and raised in New York, where I worked as a certified sightseeing guide, and traveled whenever I could. My adventures started with Caribbean cruises and North American road trips, but I was always hungry for more.
In 2017, I graduated with a BA/MA in Communication & Rhetoric from the State University of Albany, with hopes of jumping into nonprofit communications. At that time, I’d already begun to explore the world: studying abroad in Australia, backpacking solo across Europe, living with a family in Ghana, hiking through China, and teaching English in Thailand. These travels shaped my perspective in ways that I couldn’t ignore.
But here’s the kicker: I realized that I couldn’t give up the freedom travel gave me. The world was my classroom, and no office job could replicate that sense of living fully.
After graduation, I took a “real” job, but the reality didn’t match my dreams. They wouldn’t give me time off to travel until I had been there six months. And when I finally got time off, it was only two weeks a year—nowhere near enough for the kind of travel I loved. I was passionate about slow travel—really immersing myself in a place—and I quickly realized my office job wasn’t the right fit. The job felt like a cage, and I yearned to live on my own terms.
So, I made a decision. It wasn’t an easy one, and it definitely wasn’t supported by everyone around me. But I didn’t care. I was determined to follow my heart.
I quit my job, started waitressing full-time, and worked overtime to pay off my bills. This gave me the flexibility to travel whenever the urge struck.
Then, one day, while searching for a way to combine my love for travel and writing, I stumbled upon a travel writing class. Funny enough, I teach a few of those myself now! It was there that I realized it wasn’t a dream—it was possible to combine what I loved and make a living doing it.
Now, I split my time between New York City and the road. I travel somewhere new almost every month, and although I’ve been lucky enough to tick off many items from my bucket list, there are still things that make me nervous and excited. But one thing I’ve learned is that you can’t be afraid to take that first step. Once you move toward your dreams, the next step will follow.
Life is an adventure, and I intend to experience it to the fullest. And I want you to do the same.
I see too many people stuck in jobs they don’t love, living lives that don’t truly fulfill them. Even if you’re not ready to take the plunge into full-time travel, there are countless ways you can enrich your life by exploring new places, learning from different cultures, and simply embracing the unknown.
So, come explore with me! Check out the blog, get inspired, and start planning your own unforgettable journey.
Happy trails!