I will never forget the first time my family went to Europe. Right as we landed in Paris, my mom turned to me and enthusiastically said, “Oh, my gosh… we’re here!” Being your typical teenager, I was so embarrassed and asked her to quiet down. Since it was my first time out of the country, I didn’t quite understand why she was so eager. Now, I understand, and share, that same passion and excitement when landing in a destination.

I realized I wanted to pursue a career in travel after I had planned a three-week trip through Europe for my best friend and me. I found that I devoted any moment of free time I had to the planning process, and I loved every second of it. Since that important realization, I have had much growth as a traveler and travel planner, and I’m still eager to improve upon what I know for the benefit of my clients’ and my own journeys across the globe.

There is an old Irish proverb that says, “What fills the eyes, fills the heart.” Seeing the world is the best gift and, for me, being able to create life-changing experiences for clients and sending them to destinations around the world is the greatest feeling. I still get butterflies with every new trip I work on.

Cruising has always been something that I have loved, and a life goal of mine is to take an around-the-world cruise. I believe cruising is a great and easy way to travel because you get a taste of the destination – or destinations – and can go back to the places you wish to explore more.

Some of my favorite travel moments have been skydiving in Kauai; scuba diving in Fiji; swimming with stingrays and sharks in Tahiti; being in Times Square on New Year’s Eve; swinging “Over the Edge” 100 meters high on Europe’s highest swing in Amsterdam; exploring the Dalmatian Coast; and climbing to the San Giovanni fortress in Kotor, Montenegro. Although I wouldn’t trade any of these moments for the world, my true happy place is when I am out on the water.