What inspired you to work for Hopscotch Travel?
The combination of working with young individuals and getting them to go on amazing work and travel opportunities really excites me. I love traveling and communicating with people who I can relate to. The fact that my team is female lead is really influential and this definitely makes a difference for me in the workplace.
This was a camping trip in Beaverlac where we hiked to waterfalls and slept under the stars.
Why do you do what you do?
I'm motivated to succeed and reach personal goals and when I’m in a position where I'm happy this helps me achieve this. The only way to be motivated is to do something you love and something you're happy to do.
I love the opportunities Hopscotch Travel provides for young people. I love being able to get people abroad to work and travel.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love traveling and communication. My favorite part of my job is being able to help get young people who are around my age, experience the diverse cultures and amazing travel opportunities around the world. This is something I'm passionate about, so helping others experience this makes me really happy as I believe traveling is important for everyone to do.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
My higher certificate in counseling and communication allows me to understand people better and to understand the different emotions and needs that they might show. My degree in international relations gave me a well-rounded view of the international stage.
I am able to navigate an interconnected world and use my communication skills in my role. I also have a good understanding of cultural diversity which is very important for the job.
I appreciate the wonders of the natural environment and feel rejuvenated after being out in nature!
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Live a life that makes you happy and choose to do something where you are focused on your well being and balance. Embrace change as an opportunity for growth and don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Keep learning and adapting and put yourself in situations that challenge you because this is how you grow and become confident with yourself.
Why should someone choose Hopscotch Travel over competitors?
We are a young dynamic organization, a team that is driven to support individuals who love traveling and want to go abroad to work and travel. We aim to provide the best service and respond to clients in a timely manner while communicating professionally is important to us. We take interest in every person who joins a program and connect with them and communicate with them in during every step of the process.
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Our mission is to get as many young people to sign up for amazing travel and work opportunities as possible. In order to do this, it is important to motivate these people and to show them why it is so important to travel and work. Especially at a young age in order to grow and experience the world and all that it has to offer.
I love spending time with family & friends and connecting with others, it creates a meaningful life.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hope they realize what they've been on is something that many people don't get to experience. I hope they learn about different cultures and connect with other students and network and build new friendships.
I think many of them come back feeling a lot more confident with themselves as many have only traveled with family before and now they're taking the leap to travel alone. The most important thing is to have fun exploring the world while at the same time working a fun job that they choose to do.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Experiencing new cultures helps people develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for different people of various nationalities and their customs and traditions. This helps gain empathy and reduce stereotypes.
Traveling abroad encourages personal growth, adaptability and independence. It pushes us out of our comfort zones and we become more open-minded.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel to me, refers to something that goes beyond experiencing what we see as just tourism. When I travel, I want to learn about the different cultures of people and engage in their ways of life.
I love being able to learn and grow and immerse myself in another culture. Engaging with local communities creates a meaningful impact and allows you to really see the true reflection of the way locals live.
