Many of my skills don’t quite fit on a resume.
Sure, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology is credible. Proficiency in Figma, Miro, and Microsoft Office is useful. But many of my abilities weren’t learned in a classroom or at a computer.
Rather, they happened while traveling, often at my wit’s end, and most of the time in uncomfortable, unpredictable, and unexpected conditions.
Admittedly, it’s hard to put into words that I’m able to make rational decisions while running on a few hours of sleep after traveling on an overnight bus.
And it’s difficult to phrase that my most memorable encounters didn’t exist verbally, but rather in the spaces between words; in the smiles, hugs, hellos, and goodbyes that happened silently because I didn’t speak the same language as someone else.
It seems that ‘works well under pressure’ and ‘good communication skills’ are a little bit easier to fit next to a bullet point.
Here’s the thing: some of the most valuable skills are learned through experiences, not from a textbook.
You learn them in busy bus terminals, ferry docks, and airports as you quickly try to decipher unfamiliar schedules, then rush to catch your next ride.
You learn them in hostel dorms, beachside restaurants, and on adventurous excursions as you get to know the group of backpackers you’re with that are all from different parts of the world.
And you learn them at sunrise on mountain tops, at sunset next to the ocean, and everywhere in between where a beautiful moment exists and you pause to appreciate the view.
My point is, traveling has taught me some of the most important lessons and life skills I think I’ll ever learn.
Now, I’m a UX writer. And so many of the things I learned traveling have helped me as I navigate the road of writing for a specific audience
Like the pictures, memories, and souvenirs I’ve gathered, these five lessons have stayed with me and continue to show up in my daily life as a UX writer.
