Being an Immigration Consultant exposed me to the importance of travelling on time. It challenged me to wake up and start living my life intentionally, instead of waiting for the perfect moment. Through my work, I learned powerful lessons about movement, planning, and courage, and I had to apply them to my own life.
I began planning my travels when it wasn’t convenient. I wasn’t financially buoyant, I had no family support, and there were no invitations. Still, I was intentional, and that changed everything.
I made my first international trip as a young mother, not alone, but always with a baby in tow. My first journey was with my eldest, who was just seven months old. Later, I celebrated my youngest’s first birthday in the UK. On one trip, I traveled with a baby while four months pregnant, definitely not easy, but I didn’t want to miss my sister’s graduation ceremony in the UK. So, all my early travels were solo adventures with a baby.
At that time, there was no social media presence, just a few photos taken on my phone. What pushed me wasn’t applause, but purpose and timing.
From there, I learned how to adapt to new places, people and situations. How to manage my time, money, and decisions. Travelling also opened my mind to different cultures, lifestyles and ways of life. Most importantly, it helped me learn more about myself and see the world differently.
So to the Young Ones, you don’t have to wait to make some intentional moves only when everything feels comfortable or perfectly aligned. Start planning early, with any country you can afford, even if the plan feels shaky. You don’t need to have all the resources, just clarity and intention. Travel, like life, teaches you as you move. Even when it’s hard, moving forward opens doors you can’t see while standing still.
Some journeys begin with fear and end with growth, and progress favours those who move, not those who wait.
✍️ Amara Ann Unachukwu
