essay about your journey

Essays About Journeys: Top 5 Examples and 7 Easy Prompts

Essays about journeys require recounting the events of your travel. Discover our guide with examples and prompts to help you write your essay.

No two journeys are the same, and various factors will always be at play. It’s the reason many documents their expedition through different mediums. Writing about journeys is similar to telling a real-life story that influenced your character or perspective. 

Writing essays about journeys helps to develop your writing and observation skills as you recall and pick the highlights of your travel. Sharing your experiences can entice readers to take on a journey themselves. So, aim to inspire with this exciting essay topic.

5 Essay Examples

1. the best journey in my life by suzanne pittman, 2. road trips: everything you need for a comfortable journey by car by anonymous on gradesfixer.com, 3. the first day of my journey to adulthood by anonymous on papersowl.com, 4. life is a journey essay by anonymous on paperwritings.com, 5. long essay on train journey by prasanna, 1. reasons to go on a journey, 2. trip vs. journey, 3. how to enjoy long journeys, 4. my most memorable journey, 5. what makes a journey meaningful, 6. my dream journey, 7. a hero’s journey.

“I had to save a lot of money because I wanted very much to go on this journey with my friends. We planned our trip to take us around Europe. We were going to stop in various parts of Europe with family members and friends.”

The essay mimics Pittman’s travel itinerary during her journey in Europe. She includes all the trip details from the first to the last day and makes the readers feel as if they’re traveling with them. Pittman also offers some travel tips to help anyone who wants to visit Europe on a budget. These tips include staying with friends and relatives and taking comfortable train rides despite long distances.

“With proper planning, everything else seems effortless. You need to consider all factors when planning in order for you to enjoy a successful, stress-free adventure.”

The author believes that the primary purpose of traveling is to relax and have fun. They use the essay to teach how to plan car trips properly. Travelers must learn to budget and estimate expenses, including accommodation, gas, activities, and food. Picking a transportation means is also crucial as one needs to consider factors such as capacity, range, and utility. 

“Although things didn’t go how I planned I’m still in college bettering myself and furthering my education. Anything is possible with a good support system and positive mindset.”

The essay narrates how the author’s journey into adulthood becomes a mini-vacation in Georgia after their top university rejects their enrollment. This rejection offers the opportunity to understand many great life lessons. Despite having five other universities to choose from, the writer realizes they only provide free tuition for the first semester. Ultimately, the author receives a full scholarship to a university closer to home.

“All people have the same journey to take – their life. As well as in the other journeys, there may be some inconveniences, disappointments and joys, and a lot depends on how we plan this particular journey and what attitude we develop towards it.”

In this essay, the writer shares that the best way to go on a life journey is with the most joy and minor damage you can endure. It’s constant work to continuously improve one’s life while developing positive qualities and thinking. But in doing so, you’ll have a solid foundation to achieve what you want out of life. However, the author still reminds the readers that they should always be ready to face unexpected events and deal with them in the best way possible.

“These days, people prefer traveling via airplanes because it is time-saving. But going by plane gets boring and monotonous. Train journeys are a relief from the monotony.”

For Prasanna, whether it’s a short or extended tour, a train journey offers an exciting travel experience. She talks about the local and regional trains in India, which are often overcrowded but still used by many as they are the cheapest, safest, and fastest mode of transport in the country. She also mentions that you’ll never get hungry when riding their local trains because of the vendors who sell Indian delicacies. 

7 Prompts for Essays About Journeys 

Everyone has different motives for traveling. Some go on a journey to appreciate beautiful sceneries, while some move to attend family or work-related gatherings. Some do so to run away from problems. For this prompt, research the common reasons to travel. You can also interview people on why they go on a journey and add any personal experiences. 

It’s a trip when a person travels from one point to another without any transfers. Meanwhile, a journey is a more extended voyage that includes transfers and several trips. Compare and contrast trips and journeys to make your readers understand their similarities and differences. You can also have the advantages and disadvantages of each in your paper.

If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

The idea of having a long journey and discovering new things is exciting. However, the excitement can disappear when you’re far away from home. This is especially true for longer and farther travels. This prompt will help readers have a safer, more affordable, and more enjoyable trip by discussing the best long-distance travel tips. You can present an imaginary itinerary with estimated costs to make the essay more digestible.

Write about an unforgettable journey you’ve had through this prompt. Include the purpose of your travel, how you planned it, and if your timetable was followed. Share what you’ll improve on next time to make your journey even better; you can also talk about your companions and the activities that make the adventure worthwhile.

Journeys become meaningful when they enrich lives. It can be because of the destination, the people you are with, or the travel’s goal. Use this prompt to suggest how journeys improve us as humans. You can section your piece based on an individual’s objectives. For example, someone who wants to recharge and get away from the city will find meaning in going to a location far from technology.

Although traveling can be tiring, 43% of travelers appreciate the experience they gain. Think of journeys you desire to be in and add your reasons. Then, you can share your plan on how to make it happen. For instance, you want to tour Southeast Asia and visit countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. To make this dream journey come true, you’ll save for an entire year and work around a tight budget.

It’s normal to see the main character in a movie or novel go through a character arc before they become a true hero. Use this prompt to explain a hero’s journey and why the character must go through it. To give you an idea, Peter Parker was a shy and introverted kid who lived an everyday life before becoming Spider-Man. This makes him relatable to the audience and lets them understand his decisions in the following scenes.

For more examples, check out our guide to movies that follow the hero’s journey .

You can also talk about real-life heroes, such as doctors and firefighters. Interview someone with that profession and ask them why they decided to have their current career.

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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How to Write a Story About My Life Essay

Your life story is a unique tapestry of experiences, emotions, and milestones. Here's a guide on weaving these elements into a compelling narrative:

How do I write a story about my life essay? Writing about your life is an introspective journey. Reflect on milestones such as: "In 2005, my family embarked on a cross-country move from New York to California. This was not just a physical journey, but an emotional one as we navigated cultural shifts and personal growth."

How do you write a life story example? Narrative snippets can bring your essay to life. Consider: "Amid the aroma of my grandmother's kitchen, where the scent of fresh-baked bread intertwined with stories of her youth in Italy, I realized the importance of preserving family narratives."

How do you write a story essay? For instance: "As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over our beach campfire, my friend Sarah started narrating her unexpected escapade in the jungles of Borneo. With every twist and turn, we were gripped, realizing that sometimes life's best stories are unplanned."

What is life simple essay? Life's moments can be captured in simple narratives. Reflect upon: "Last winter, while walking my dog Max, we came across a frozen pond. Watching children gleefully slide across it, I was reminded of life's fleeting moments of joy and the importance of seizing them."

How do you write a short life story about yourself? Begin with defining moments: "When I was ten, I found a wounded bird in our backyard. Nursing it back to health didn't just kindle my love for animals but taught me compassion and patience."

How can I write about myself example? Use varied experiences: "From scaling the rocky terrains of Colorado, immersing myself in the bustling streets of Tokyo, to teaching underprivileged kids in my hometown, each experience has crafted a chapter of my ever-evolving life story."

What is our story? "In college, Lisa and I teamed up for a project on Renaissance art. Not only did we ace it, but our shared admiration for art and culture fostered a bond that turned two classmates into lifelong friends."

How do you start an interesting story example? Set the scene vividly: "It was on a cold, foggy night in London when I stumbled upon an old bookstore. Little did I know, this store harbored secrets that would lead me on a whirlwind adventure."

How do you write a successful story? Use emotions to captivate: "As Maria gazed upon the old photograph, tears welled up in her eyes. It wasn't just an image; it was a time capsule transporting her back to summers spent at her grandparents' cottage."

How do you write an example essay? Support your arguments with real-life instances: "In arguing the importance of community, I often reflect on the time my neighbors came together post a hurricane, showcasing unity and resilience."

What life means to me example? "Life, for me, is a mosaic of memories – from the giggles shared over childhood pranks to the solace found in solitary walks during challenging times."

Experience personalized article creation with the precision of our AI rewrite tool

Frequently Asked Questions

• What makes a personal life story essay engaging? True stories resonate best. Pouring genuine emotions, raw experiences, and candid reflections into your narrative makes it universally relatable.
• How can I avoid making my life story essay sound boastful? Maintain a balance. Celebrate achievements, but also shed light on challenges, lessons learned, and moments of vulnerability.
• What tense should I use when writing my life story? Past tense is often used, but present tense can create immediacy when sharing thoughts.
• How personal should I get in my life story essay? Authenticity is engaging, but set boundaries on details you share.
• Is chronological order essential in a life essay? Not necessarily. Chronology provides clarity, but thematic or importance-based sequencing can be impactful.
• Can I incorporate dialogues in my life story essay? Absolutely! Dialogues make moments come alive and give insights into character dynamics.
• Should I conclude with a lesson in my life story? Ending with a reflection or lesson provides closure and a takeaway for readers.

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1.2 Your Academic Journey and Personal Story

Questions to Consider:

• How can your academic journey develop skills needed for college success?
• How can your personal story prepare you for applying to college?

Your Academic Journey

Now that you have a better understanding of what college can do for you, it is time to focus on how high school is preparing you for college, or better yet, how you can prepare yourself in high school to become college ready. It is clear that what you do (or don’t do) in high school can affect your ability to get into the colleges of your choice, but there is more to preparing yourself than just earning a high GPA or class rank. Your high school education can provide you with ample opportunity to help you hone your academic skills.

Take Difficult Courses

Any student who is serious about applying to college should consider taking challenging classes while in high school. Why? Because those classes can help lay a foundation of high expectations and hard work and they are often highly regarded by college admissions counselors. These classes are sometimes called Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or honors/advanced classes. If you are considering taking such courses, talk to your guidance counselor or current teachers. They may be able to offer suggestions for how to get selected (if there is an application process) and give you a realistic picture of what will be expected. There is no need to take all AP, IB, or advanced classes to prove you are ready for college, but taking a few can provide a college admissions committee evidence that you are open to challenge.

Manage Time and Tasks

If there is one skill that you can develop now that will help you throughout your college career, it is the ability to manage your time and complete tasks. If you already use a planner to track what you need to do and when it is due , then you are on the right track. You can enhance these skills by setting reminders for yourself—and not relying on teachers or parents to tell you when to complete or submit an assignment. The most important part of managing your time and tasks effectively is to build in time well before something is due to complete the work and to overestimate (at least initially) how long you need, which can provide time “buffers” that will keep you from rushing through work to finish it.

Learn to Learn

Earlier, you were introduced to the argument that the purpose of college is to become a learner. You don’t have to wait until college, though, to figure out how best to learn different subject matters. This is one reason you should consider taking challenging classes–they require that you put more time and effort in them to learn the material. And those skills will make transitioning to college much easier. How can you “learn to learn”? You may have little control over what you are learning and how you are tested, but you can control how you approach the learning. One way to learn how to learn is to space out your learning over time (as best as you can—sometimes teachers like to give you a pop quiz when you least expect it!). Reviewing a bit of material for a short amount of time over several days (as opposed to cramming it in right before a test) produces better results. Another way to learn how to learn is to monitor how well your learning strategies work. Did you do well on a test? Take some time to reflect on what you did that resulted in a good grade. Did you space out your studying? Did you look for connections in the material? Likewise, if you do poorly on a test, determine what led to the result. The more you can identify what works and doesn’t for you, the easier it is to make improvements in your learning strategies.

Demonstrate Integrity and Ownership of Learning

Being a high school student often means having a lot on your plate. It can be easy to put off homework and studying, not do it at all, or cut corners to complete the work. While you may be able to get away with some stumbles like forgetting to turn in an assignment, other behaviors, such as getting someone (including Artificial Intelligence software) to do your homework or write a paper for you can get you into trouble. Now is the time to build the skills you will need later in college. Taking full responsibility for your learning as well as demonstrating integrity in all assignments no matter how big or small are the foundation of those skills. How do you do this? For one, you acknowledge that every action or inaction will produce a result. If you put in the work to write the paper, you will earn the grade you receive. If you do not put in the work or find a way to shortcut the process by using someone else’s writing, then you have missed an opportunity to improve your writing, your thinking, and your project management skills. Plus, you may get into trouble for academic dishonesty, which could mean failing an assignment or a course, or getting a more substantial punishment, such as expulsion. The stakes only get higher when you are in college.

Keep Test Scores in Perspective

You will learn more about standardized test scores and their purpose for getting into college later in this chapter, but it is worth noting that while what you make on the ACT, SAT, or equivalent standardized test, may factor into your ability to get into and pay for the college of your dreams, it is not necessarily a reflection of who you are and what you are capable of. Definitely do all you can to raise your test scores through practicing, prepping, and doing your best on the day of the test. But do not assume that a low test score will be the end of your long-term goals or educational journey. They are just one piece of information by which an institution may evaluate your potential, but it shouldn’t be the only thing that tells who you are.

Your Personal Story

Just as important as your academic journey is your personal story. You will need to develop and reflect on both for your applications to college and scholarships. Those who read about you will want to know not only about your accomplishments, but also your challenges and how you have overcome them.

What Makes You Unique

It may seem cliché to say “There is only one you!” But there is some truth in the fact that you are unique—there is no one else like you. To that end, you may want to draw upon those unique characteristics as you begin to shape the story that you will share with college admissions staff and scholarship committees. Will you be the first in your family to go to college? Do you live on a working farm and feed the goats, cows, and horses every morning before school? Can you ride a unicycle or juggle or both? There may be both personal characteristics as well as experiences that make you stand out from others, and if there are, consider weaving these details into the tapestry of your story. Start by making a list of your characteristics—no trait is too small or typical at this point. You can eliminate items later when you start building your story, but for now, create the list and add to it as you think of new things that you are or can do.

Getting Gritty

Many college essay prompts include an opportunity to share a time in your life in which you faced adversity and overcame it. For some students, this prompt is difficult for they have either not experienced a life-changing setback or not considered themselves challenged. It is important to remember that any setback or disappointment—no matter how inconsequential it may seem to you—can be the basis for an essay that responds to such a prompt. There is no need to embellish the circumstance if it is truly not harrowing, but it is acceptable to frame the experience as something that was difficult for you. Most readers of essays are less looking for a made-for-Hollywood story and more wanting to see someone who has demonstrated tenacity, resilience, and reflection no matter how big or small the adversity is. Even if you are not required to write an essay on a time in your life in which you failed or experienced disappointment, having a story handy for interviews (for scholarships, internships, or jobs) can help you share insight into your personality and strengths in a succinct way.

Finding the Themes of Your Life

In Katharine Brooks’ (2010) book You Majored in What? 3 she shares a writing and reflecting activity called “Wandering Pathways and Butterfly Moments” that guides readers through a series of prompts to develop a list of life experiences for the purpose of discovering what career pathway may be most fruitful for them to pursue. These life experiences could be as monumental as moving to a new state and starting a new school or they can be as mundane as spending the summers fishing. The goal of the exercise is to record what you have done or what has happened to you to get a sense of a “story.” These stories are built upon the connections and themes that you see in the experiences. Here are some of the life experiences Brooks wants you to consider when you are crafting your personal story.

• What have you done during the summer or holiday breaks from school?
• What did you play when you were a young child?
• What are some of your major life experiences (e.g. family events such as births, deaths, marriages, divorces)?
• What do people say you do well or have a talent for or seek you out for?
• What do you consider your greatest achievements?
• What jobs have you had?
• What groups have you belonged to?
• What awards have you won?
• What lessons have you learned?
• What do you like to do for fun?
• What kind of “secret” talent do you have?

The goal of answering the questions is to capture as much about who you are and how you have been shaped to develop clear connections among the life elements and create themes. These themes can drive your personal story that can share on a deeper level who you are or who you are becoming.

Consider this scenario: Raphael has taken the time to write down his life experiences so he can build his personal narrative. Some of the answers to the questions above include the following:

• Raphael’s jobs: lifeguard, babysitter for his nieces and nephews, tutor, art teacher for elementary students
• Raphael’s hobbies and interests: watching old movies, volunteering at the library, creating original jewelry from natural objects
• Raphael’s awards and accolades: he won a writing contest in 11th grade, his friends come to him for advice, he has earned high grades in all of his classes
• Raphael’s major life events: parents divorced when he was 6 years old, he started a new school in junior high, his aunt passed away when he was 14 years old

From this short list, Raphael can begin to draw out themes that he can use to create a detailed picture of who he is. He has found himself in teaching roles with his jobs. He has a love for the arts as evidenced by his hobbies. He is a good communicator evidenced by his awards and accolades, and relationships are an important part of his life. Raphael can use those themes—and details from his experiences—to craft his story as someone who has demonstrated an interest in connecting with and helping others by sharing his expertise and experience.

Recognizing the themes in your life helps you to describe how you've become the person you are now, and helps you to understand who you will become.

"For me, becoming isn't about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn't end" —former First Lady Michelle Obama , Becoming (2018)

Analysis Question

In what ways is your academic journey in high school shaping your personal narrative? Describe how the following experiences are helping you “become":

• The classes that you are taking
• The activities you participate in as part of school (e.g., sports, performing arts, etc.)
• The learning that you are doing outside of school (e.g., community language class)

In what ways are your personal experiences shaping your story? Describe how the following experiences are helping you “become”:

• Major life events
• Favorite activities
• Awards and accomplishments
• Jobs or volunteer work
• 3 Brooks, K.(2010). You majored in what? Plume.

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• Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/preparing-for-college-success/pages/1-2-your-academic-journey-and-personal-story

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My journey As a Student Essay

Essay on topic my journey as a student.

Introduction Lines

As a student, my journey so far has been full of challenges, growth, and self-discovery. I have learned a lot about myself, my abilities, and my passions. In this essay, I will reflect on my journey as a student, highlighting the milestones, struggles, and achievements that have shaped my academic life.

Body Paragraphs

My journey as a student started when I was in elementary school. I vividly remember the excitement and nervousness I felt on my first day of school. I was eager to learn and make new friends. As I progressed through the years, I encountered many challenges, such as adjusting to new teachers, making the transition from elementary to middle school, and learning how to manage my time effectively. Despite these challenges, I remained committed to my studies and continued to work hard to achieve good grades.

In high school, I faced a new set of challenges. The workload was more rigorous, and I had to balance academics with extracurricular activities and part-time work. During this time, I also discovered my passion for writing and became an active member of the school newspaper. This experience taught me the value of teamwork, communication, and leadership.

As I entered college, I was both excited and nervous. I knew that college would be a new and challenging experience, but I was determined to succeed. I quickly learned that college required a higher level of dedication, discipline, and self-motivation. I had to learn how to manage my time efficiently, prioritize my tasks, and seek help when needed. Despite the challenges, I thrived in college and became more confident in my abilities. I also discovered new interests and passions, such as studying abroad and volunteering in my community.

Conclusion:

My journey as a student has been a remarkable experience. It has taught me valuable life skills, such as perseverance, time management, and teamwork. I have learned to adapt to new situations and challenges, and to never give up on my dreams. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had and for the people who have supported me along the way. As I continue my academic journey, I am excited to see where it will take me and what new experiences and challenges I will encounter.

Hello! Welcome to my Blog StudyParagraphs.co. My name is Angelina. I am a college professor. I love reading writing for kids students. This blog is full with valuable knowledge for all class students. Thank you for reading my articles.

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How to Write a Narrative Essay on Your Last Journey

A narrative essay on a journey is an exciting chance to express yourself and reflect on your last trip’s adventures. This writing can be approached from various angles and may be experiential, anecdotal, or personal. If you haven’t written such papers, we encourage you to explore the following steps to create an appealing and captivating narrative essay easily.

Brainstorm About Your Journey

First, you need to consider what information you will include in your writing and recall your last journey, especially if it was long ago.

● Think of the event by simply closing your eyes. You can use a voice recorder on your phone to catch your thoughts or write down your memories after the reflection session. Think about your feelings, key events, lessons learned, etc.

● Try to refresh memories from your last journey by reviewing photos you’ve made or videos you have taken to remember details, events, locations, and other meaningful details that will improve your narrative quality.

● Read more information for inspiration. Look at what other travelers say about the location you have visited, gain more general information (like the history of the place), and read articles related to the place you have seen.

Experiment with Writing Tools

To bring your writing to the next level and speed up the writing process, you can use ChatGPT or another free AI generator to develop some fresh ideas for your essay, but don’t forget to write the draft yourself to avoid plagiarism. Also, you can try an essay writing service like essayshark.com and get a totally unique narrative essay from professional writers according to your instructions.

Decide on the Narrative Type

In fact, you can develop the story about your last journey in various ways. You can describe your journey in a classical way and describe events chronologically. Or maybe you wish to focus on the journey’s particular moment or theme? Consider which approach will clearly express everything you want to discuss in your essay.

● Chronological type. It lets the reader experience your journey from start to end and gives a sense of an unfolding story.

● Reflective type. Choose this type if you wish to share your emotions and personal transformation experience through your journey.

● Descriptive type. Let the reader clearly imagine the picture of sightseeing and locations you have visited. Use vibrant and sensory descriptions to achieve the goal.

● Thematic type. A great option if you wish to talk about personal growth, relationships, environmental awareness, cultural diversity, and other themes of self-discovery through your journey.

● Flashback narrative. Suppose you wish to talk about the most captivating and exciting events. In that case, you can use this type of narrative to focus on various moments without sticking to the chronology of the events.

● Literary narrative. For this type, you will need to use literary devices such as allegory, metaphor imagery, personification, etc. For example, you can compare the journey to the mountains to the visit to ancient giants that have seen a lot during their existence.

Depending on the writing goals you wish to achieve and the tastes of your audience, you can mix the narrative types to give the reader more depth about your journey experience.

Create an Outline

Write all the points about your journey you wish to write about in your essay. Consider that the narrative should have an introduction, a body paragraph with a climax or turning point, and a conclusion. This approach will allow you to express your thoughts and consider all ideas effectively. Use a mind-map service to fill in the boxes of your points and logically tie them down to the core idea of the essay. Remember to stick to the narrative type you have chosen. More information you can get in recommendations for narrative essays from Nova Southeastern University .

Think About an Interesting Introduction

As you are writing a narrative essay, which refers more to personal writing, you have many options to choose from. You can start with a captivating description of the place you have visited, focus on the emotions, tell an anecdote that has happened during your journey, dialogue, fact, or a topic-related question.

For example:

“In the ancient ruins and breathtaking sense of history, a voice of fresh wind invited me to explore the new path. I sensed the whisper of old stones and something unknown to explore with every step. I already knew that this journey would reveal the old city’s mysteries and reveal secrets of my own soul.”

Write the First Draft and Proofread It

Write the text freely as your thoughts flow. Consider the outline, add sensory details , share your emotions, and focus on your experience. Forget about perfection and add as many details as you can to allow the reader to immerse into your journey. When you put the last word in your essay, leave it for some time to refresh your mind. Use a grammar checker and reread the text to fix the main mistakes. Cut unnecessary detail, rewrite some sections, and improve the narrative’s logical flow if needed.

Writing a narrative essay on your last journey allows you to immerse in memories and reflect on your past experiences. By creating a vivid picture for the reader, you start thinking about your trip from various angles and how it has influenced you personally. Combine narrative types, and intervene with your personal reflections and facts to write a compelling and engaging narrative essay.

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Greg is a modern-day explorer with an insatiable love for travel. His passion for adventure has led him to far-flung corners of the world, where he immerses himself in diverse cultures and experiences. Greg's zest for life is epitomized by a continuous pursuit of new horizons and captivating journeys.

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Home Essay Samples Life About Myself

My Journey as a University Student

Table of contents, introduction, academic aspirations, adapting to university life, engagement in studies, extracurricular activities, building relationships, personal growth and challenges, contributions to the community, goals and aspirations.

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Essay on An Unforgettable Journey

Students are often asked to write an essay on An Unforgettable Journey in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on An Unforgettable Journey

The beginning of the journey.

My unforgettable journey began when I boarded a train to visit my grandparents. The bustling station, filled with people, was exciting.

The Traveling Experience

On the train, I met different people. We shared stories, food, and laughter. The changing landscape outside was mesmerizing.

The Arrival

As I arrived, my grandparents’ warm welcome filled my heart with joy. Their small town had its unique charm.

This journey was unforgettable because of the people I met, the sights I saw, and the experiences I had. It taught me to appreciate the beauty of life.

250 Words Essay on An Unforgettable Journey

The prelude: a journey begins.

Every journey has a story, and every story has a protagonist. In this case, the protagonist was me, a college student yearning for an adventure. I embarked on a journey that was not just about traversing geographical distances but also about self-discovery.

The Adventure: Embracing the Unknown

My journey began in the bustling city of Mumbai and led me to the serene landscapes of Ladakh. The stark contrast between the two places was as different as day and night. The city’s chaos was replaced by the tranquility of mountains, and the skyscrapers were replaced by towering peaks. The journey was not smooth; there were unexpected challenges and hurdles, but they only added to the thrill.

The Epiphany: Lessons Learnt

The journey taught me resilience, patience, and the ability to appreciate the little things in life. It made me realize how insignificant our daily worries are in the grand scheme of things. The journey unveiled the raw beauty of nature and the simple lifestyle of the locals, which was a stark contrast to the materialistic life in the city.

The Aftermath: An Unforgettable Journey

The journey was not just about the destination; it was about the experiences, the people, and the lessons learned. It was an unforgettable journey that left an indelible mark on me. It was a journey that transformed me, a journey that I will carry in my heart forever. It was indeed an unforgettable journey, a journey of a lifetime.

In conclusion, every journey is a story waiting to be told, and every story is a journey waiting to be taken. It’s the journey, not the destination, that shapes us.

500 Words Essay on An Unforgettable Journey

The prelude to the journey.

Every journey is a mosaic of experiences, a tapestry of memories woven together over time. One such unforgettable journey that left an indelible mark on my life was a trekking expedition to the Himalayas.

Embarking on the Adventure

The journey began with an overnight train ride from Delhi to a small town nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas. As the train chugged along, the urban landscape gradually gave way to the serene beauty of the countryside. The excitement was palpable, not just for the destination, but also for the journey itself.

The trek was a test of endurance, courage, and perseverance. The terrain was treacherous, the weather unpredictable, and the altitude sickness a constant threat. But the sight of the majestic mountains, the sound of the bubbling streams, and the smell of the fresh mountain air made it all worthwhile. Every step taken was a step closer to self-discovery, every challenge faced a lesson in resilience.

The Epiphany

The pinnacle of the trek was an ethereal sunrise from the summit. As the first rays of the sun kissed the snow-capped peaks, the world seemed to stand still. It was a moment of profound clarity, a realization of our insignificance in the grand scheme of things, and yet, a recognition of our potential to conquer our fears and overcome our limitations.

The Descent and Beyond

The descent was no less challenging, but the sense of accomplishment and the memories made along the way made it easier. The journey was not just about reaching the summit, but also about the bonds forged, the friendships nurtured, and the stories shared. It was a journey of self-discovery, of pushing boundaries, and of finding joy in the journey itself.

Reflecting upon this unforgettable journey, I realized that it was a microcosm of life itself. Just like the trek, life is full of ups and downs, challenges and triumphs. It is not the destination, but the journey that shapes us, that defines us. It is the experiences we gather, the lessons we learn, and the memories we make that truly matter. This unforgettable journey was a testament to the fact that it is not the mountains we conquer, but ourselves.

In conclusion, an unforgettable journey is not merely a physical journey from one place to another, but also a journey of the mind and the soul. It is about stepping out of our comfort zones, challenging ourselves, and growing in the process. It is about embracing the journey, with all its challenges and triumphs, and making it a part of our story.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on A Memorable Journey
• Essay on A Journey by Train
• Essay on A Journey by Bus

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Essay on Train Journey for Students and Children

500+ words essay on train journey.

First of all, a journey refers to traveling from one place to another. When it comes to journeys, train journeys take the top spot. A train journey certainly is a wonderfully joyous occasion. Furthermore, train journeys fill individuals with a feeling of intense excitement. This mode of the journey is best when the travel distance is long. A train journey creates an aura that cannot be experienced with other types of journeys.

My Experience of Journey by Train

I have always been an avid supporter of train journeys. My involvement with train journeys began in childhood . I live in Lucknow and from here I have undertaken many train journeys. Furthermore, since childhood, I have paid several visits to the hill station of Almora to meet my relatives. Almora is a hill station located in the state of Uttarakhand. Most noteworthy, Almora is situated in the Himalayan mountain region. Due to this, trains cannot travel directly to Almora. Consequently, Kathgodam is the last town station accessible by trains before the mountain range begins.

The trip from Lucknow to kathgodam is quite a lively experience. I have always ensured the reservation of my seats beforehand. So, my train journey begins from Lucknow railway station. As the train undergoes motion and leaves the Lucknow railway station, my excitement begins to rise. Moreover, as the train gathers speed, a thrilling feeling overtakes me.

My train journey from Lucknow to Kathgodam is probably 8-10 hours duration. However, I enjoy every minute of it in spite of the journey being so long. Furthermore, all along the journey, one can purchase items of food and drinks. I almost always purchase meals and refreshments at least twice in the journey.

When slumber overtakes me, I make use of the sleeping berth. I personally find sleeping on the train berth very comfortable. When I wake after a deep sleep, mountains are visible from a distance. Moreover, as the train approaches Kathgodam with menacing speed, the view of mountains gets bigger and bigger. Also, my amusement greatly rises as I see the Himalayas draw closer. Finally, as the train stops at Kathgodam, my delightful train journey comes to an end.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Why Do I Like to Travel by Train?

Comfort is one of the biggest advantages of a train journey. Most noteworthy, one can move freely in a train cabin. Furthermore, in trains, there is a possibility of an ample foot room. Moreover, trains offer comfortable sleeping berths. All of this makes the train journey a relaxing experience.

Beautiful sightseeing is another noteworthy benefit of train journeys. As the train travels, one can enjoy the views of the countryside, farms, forests , factories, etc. This makes train journeys more comprehensive than journeys by air or road.

Train journeys offer a variety of opportunities to pass time. Furthermore, the train offers a sociable environment. In train journeys, conversations between passengers almost always take place. One can make new friends with traveling passengers on the train easily. Also, one can spend time in a handsome manner on a train journey. In a train journey, one can spend time reading something, listening to music, watching videos, sleeping/resting comfortably, etc.

To sum it up, train journeys are truly one of a kind. The train journey offers uniqueness like no other journey. Most noteworthy, the charm of such a journey is unmatchable. The train journey certainly offers an unforgettable rich experience.

Q1 Why does the writer sleeps so deeply in trains?

A1 The writer sleeps deeply in trains because he finds sleeping on the train berth very comfortable.

Q2 What makes train journeys so journeys so comfortable?

A2 Trains journeys certainly are very comfortable. First of all, one can move freely in a train cabin. Furthermore, there is ample foot room possibility and comfortable sleeping berths on the train.

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Commentary: My journey from anthropology to entrepreneurship

Vannia Flores Forsyth is a Peruvian-born and raised entrepreneur and 2022 UBC anthropology alumnus.

Reflecting on my time at UBC, it's clear that my anthropology degree did more than fill my head with facts — it shaped my perception of how I view the world. Grappling with complex issues without straightforward answers prepared me well for what lay beyond campus life. 

It wasn't just about cultural studies; it was about learning to navigate the gray areas of life.

Right after I had decided to major in anthropology, for the sake of credits and camaraderie, I enrolled in a GEOG 120 class alongside my best friend, Grace. Initially, this geography class seemed a mere divergence from my anthropology major, with its mandated memorization of cloud types — cirrus, stratus, cumulus — appearing tangential at best. 

Throughout the course, however, not only did I learn several important lessons about the principles of climate, hydrology, geomorphology, biogeography and human-induced changes, but also developed a comprehensive understanding of the ways in which the quarterly shopping spree at the mall, which I had grown up so used to, had a detrimental effect on our planet. 

This significant turning point came while diving into a research project on the pressing issue of fast fashion. It struck a chord with me: the fashion industry's relentless drive for profit at the expense of both people and the planet was something I couldn't just study and forget.

The hard truths from scientific studies shocked me. Sitting cross-legged in my $25 sneakers and the cheap sweaters from Costco, I was struck by the carelessness with which the fashion industry contributes to climate change, water pollution, marine pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. 

How did I become so oblivious? I came to question my complacency in this cycle of destruction. I was appalled by the unsustainable and unethical exploitative labour practices and models of overconsumption and waste propelled by a trends-driven pop-culture industry resulting in millions of tons of textile waste every year. 

Among the noise at 3 a.m. in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, I had a moment of clarity. In some way, I was able to connect the dots into an embodied understanding, which along with a genuine concern for our collective environmental footprint sparked the idea for how I might bring my anthropological background into my business ventures. 

Amidst the depths of job searching and the desire to make something meaningful with my skills and life, Sacred Warmth was born in September 2023. 

My background in anthropology, not business, not only meant having a wide array of skills and an ever-so-daunting lack of a “specialty” for a corporate role, but also stepping into unchartered territory. Nonetheless, armed with confidence about my skills and lessons from UBC — critical thinking, cultural sensitivity and an appreciation for ethical business practices — the mantra "everything is figureoutable " became my North Star.

If I were still in school, I would be soaking up every lesson, every critique and every insight. The skills you're honing aren't just for passing exams; you’re developing an understanding of transforming intellectual prose into praxis. UBC didn’t just give me a pretty diploma — it steered me through the challenges of starting a business with a mission to tackle the very issues I once wrote essays about.

By intertwining my business model with support for charitable causes, I not only challenge the prevailing norms of the fashion industry but also champion a model where fashion serves as a force for good. As a researcher turned entrepreneur, I have harnessed my understanding of fast fashion's environmental and social impacts.

Looking back, I've realized that this path I’ve been navigating is less a departure from my academic roots and more a continuation of my commitment to understanding and improving human interactions with the environment. The challenges of sustainable business practices are as complex as any cultural system studied in anthropology, demanding the application of theoretical knowledge in practical and impactful ways.

My studies in history and culture during my degree complicated my understanding of capitalism and its shortcomings, and at first, dampened my initial desire to start a business. Eventually, though, these feelings cultivated the curiosity and courage to speak up and innovate creative ways to disrupt the status quo. As the saying goes, you must understand the rules before you can break them. 

For me, it took a lot of courage, and I mean, lots of it. It took over 150 essays to embrace my ideas, my opinions and my voice to share the vision of what I stood for. 

I feared failure, but I feared more not trying. My anthropology degree did way more than fill my head with facts. It showed me who I really was beyond all labels and identities. It empowered my voice to be heard, for my ideas to be nurtured and my witty self to dare make a difference.

Your voice, experiences and ideas hold power. Staying small and illusions of greatness serve no one. 

Whoever you are, wherever you are, I know you are brimming with groundbreaking ideas. My journey has taught me that you shouldn’t wait for the perfect moment to pursue them. 

Make your dreams a reality by sharing them, seeking help along the way and actually following through with the support that shows up to your assistance. After all, when the student is ready, the master appears.

This is an opinion article. It reflects only the author's views and does not reflect the views of The Ubyssey as a whole . Have something to say about what you just read? Contribute to the conversation and send a letter to the editor in response or your own submission at ubyssey.ca/pages/submit-an-opinion .

For Years, I Thought My Gut Issues Were From Dairy—Then I Got a Surprising Diagnosis

There’s an ongoing joke among my close friends and family, and it’s that, well, I’m gassy. 

For most of my adult life, I've experienced gas, bloating, and overall stomach discomfort after eating. At home, my father would tease me that I took after his side of the family when I would stink up the living room. After a dinner out with my close girlfriends while living in New York City in my 20s, I passed gas on the subway, and they all hurried away from me, plugging their noses. Years later, my loving husband stowed Febreze spray in the drawer of his nightstand for when my tummy was upset. 

• Abigail Hueber, RD, LDN , integrative functional dietitian
• Andrew Boxer, MD , board-certified gastroenterologist and internal medicine physician with Gastroenterology Associates of New Jersey
• Mariana Dineen, RD

For years, I wondered why I was the stinky one in my circle.  After doing Whole30 (a monthlong elimination diet) at the age of 25, I self-diagnosed myself with dairy sensitivity . I cut out cow’s milk, but I didn’t give up my love of cheese plates full of olives and crackers or hearty pasta dishes with extra mozzarella or Parmesan on top. I told myself I’d have to suffer the consequences, but hey, it was worth it. 

Still, I never thought to seek out a real diagnosis. Looking back, perhaps that was a byproduct of being a woman and trying to navigate a biased health care system . Or maybe it was because my gastrointestinal symptoms seemed more like a source of humor and embarrassment than an actual medical issue. But things changed when I became a mother.

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Getting serious about my gut health

When my daughter entered day care at 12 months old, our household was hit with one sickness after another—from hand, foot and mouth disease to stomach bugs and every cough and cold in between. It felt like as soon as we recovered from one sickness, another immediately took us out. And while everyone suffered, when it came to stomach viruses, I seemed to be hit the hardest, and my symptoms lasted the longest. (So much so that I had to sell my ticket to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour because I couldn’t get off the toilet. I’m still nursing that wound.)

After a few months of this, I made an appointment with my primary care physician. I was concerned because I'd noticed an increase in bloating and gassiness, even when I didn’t eat dairy. I'd also had a few bouts of diarrhea lasting longer than I would have liked, and with rising rates of colon cancer among young adults , I wanted to be extra safe. My doctor referred me to a gastroenterologist, and after a three-month wait, I finally went in for my appointment. 

Following a long intake process that included answering some relatively embarrassing questions about my bowel habits, my gastroenterologist did bloodwork, an ultrasound, and a breath test, and finally concluded that I had small intestinal bacterial overgrowth , or SIBO. 

Turns out, the gassiness I'd become known for was the key to unlocking what was really going on in my gut.

What the heck is SIBO?

As the name suggests, SIBO happens when there's an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. Trillions of bacteria and other microbes naturally hang out in our digestive tracts (aka, the gut microbiome ), says Andrew Boxer, MD , a board-certified gastroenterologist with Gastroenterology Associates of New Jersey, and these tiny bugs help us digest the food we eat, among other things. But too much bacteria in the small intestine (and more specifically, bacteria that has no business posting up there) can trigger symptoms like bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, and abdominal pain (hello, it me).

"The most common symptom of SIBO is bloating, especially bloating that gets progressively worse throughout the day, leaving someone feeling distended and uncomfortable at the end of the day,” says Abigail Hueber, RD, LDN , functional dietitian and founder of Above Health Nutrition.

It doesn't look the same for everyone, though, Hueber notes. "SIBO can present as either diarrhea or constipation or even have someone oscillating between both," she says.

Because these symptoms aren’t super specific and often can be confused with other conditions (like irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS) or even food intolerances (yep, including a dairy intolerance), Dr. Boxer says people typically suffer for years and see multiple doctors before a diagnosis is ever made.

It was confusing to learn I had a condition I had never heard of before, but apparently that’s par for the course with SIBO. Dr. Boxer says SIBO is more common than we've realized in the past. “Traditionally, we thought that only patients with mixed connective tissue disorders such as scleroderma get this disorder,” he says. “The more we learn, the more we see that there are many reasons to have it.” 

Indeed, SIBO often occurs when something—like surgery, illness, or even a chronic condition like diabetes—causes food and waste products to move more slowly through the digestive tract, which in turn creates a breeding ground for bacteria, per the Mayo Clinic . It can also come about from long-term use or overuse of meds like antacids, proton pump inhibitors, antibiotics, or narcotics, per the Cleveland Clinic . And that's not an exhaustive list by any means.

The SIBO-gas connection

From our first conversation, my gastroenterologist was fairly certain I had SIBO. However, he wanted to be extra cautious, so he recommended I do bloodwork and an abdominal ultrasound to check for any suspicious or problematic growths or abnormalities. Luckily, everything came back clean and normal, so we moved on to a breath test. 

Breath testing is a non-invasive process that involves measuring the concentration of gasses—hydrogen, methane, and more recently, hydrogen sulfide—in the breath after consuming a specific amount of a carbohydrate, such as glucose or lactulose, says Mariana Dineen, RD, LDN , dietitian and founder of Elemento Health . “This method indirectly suggests the presence of an excessive bacterial population in the small intestine by detecting gas produced from the fermentation of the ingested carbohydrate by gut bacteria,” she explains. “This gas is then exhaled through the lungs.”

It wasn’t dairy causing my bloating and gas—it was garlic and bananas, two foods I had eaten on a near-daily basis for the majority of my life.

Discovering my SIBO triggers

As with most medical conditions, there’s no shortage of information on the internet about how to treat SIBO symptoms. There are massive Facebook groups with 50K+ members where people share everything they’ve tried to manage their stomach upset and prevent flare-ups. After reading through so many of these, I felt surprisingly grateful: I had a relatively mild case of SIBO. My everyday life wasn't interrupted; I could function, work, parent, and exercise, and my flare-ups, while uncomfortable, were mostly tolerable. 

There are so many ways to treat SIBO—from cutting out entire food groups to using herbal remedies—but I followed the treatment plan recommended by my gastroenterologist, which started with taking an intense course of antibiotics to essentially "clean out" my gut. My bloating and diarrhea subsided after my two-week course of Xifaxan, and I didn’t experience any side effects.

Afterward, though, the most challenging part of navigating my SIBO diagnosis began: figuring out which foods were responsible for my symptoms. Though I was sure dairy was to blame, this turned out not to be the case.

Hueber says SIBO symptoms can flare when specific foods "feed" the overgrown bacteria in the GI system. What makes SIBO difficult to figure out is that seemingly ordinary foods that are considered healthy can be the culprit. For most people, these are high-FODMAP foods , Hueber says—that is, foods high in certain fermentable carbs or sugars, such as apples, mangoes, pears, garlic, onions, cauliflower, and kidney beans.

To determine my triggers, I followed a low-FODMAP diet , where I avoided all high-FODMAP foods for a month and then gradually added them back in, one at a time, while keeping tabs on my symptoms. “You can identify which foods are causing your flare-up of symptoms by keeping a detailed food diary, including any symptoms you experience, to pinpoint specific foods and identify patterns over time,” explains Crystal Ayoob, MHA, RDN, a registered dietitian and dietetic lead at Heali .

(It's important to note that a low-FODMAP diet isn't right for everyone , and it's best to work with a doctor or dietitian when trying it to avoid nutritional deficiencies or even worsened GI issues.)

This is how I discovered it wasn’t dairy causing my bloating and gas—it was garlic and bananas, two foods I had eaten on a near-daily basis for the majority of my life. Often, I would add garlic to my morning eggs and then have bananas and almond butter after my run. It never occurred to me these healthy foods could be the reason behind my discomfort. 

Embracing life with less gas

For almost a year now, I’ve cut garlic and bananas from my diet, and I don’t have any of the old gassy symptoms I used to have (buh bye, bedside Febreze spray). At the recommendation of my gastroenterologist, I've also eliminated probiotics and kombucha-style beverages. As he explained to me, if you have SIBO, you already have more bacteria than you need, so adding more through supplements or drinks could make symptoms worse. 

The downfall, of course, is not being able to eat some of the foods I love. While some people with SIBO can add trigger foods back into their diet over time, I notice extreme bloating when I eat even a tiny bit of garlic (which is in so many delicious dishes!), so for now, I’m avoiding it. I do take comfort in knowing that many people with SIBO experience these garlic-derived symptoms, since it’s a common culprit. As for bananas? Ayoob says I may be able to enjoy overripe bananas (when they have brown spots on their peel), because the fruit's carbohydrate content decreases over time. I’m not brave enough to try it, but I’ll report back if I do.

For now, I’m savoring having a relatively normal digestive system for the first time in my adult life. And maybe, eventually, I won’t be considered the smelly friend anymore. 

—medically reviewed by Jennifer Logan, MD, MPH

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Guest Essay

When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place

Mr. Yong is a science writer whose most recent book, “An Immense World,” investigates animal perception.

Last September, I drove to a protected wetland near my home in Oakland, Calif., walked to the end of a pier and started looking at birds. Throughout the summer, I was breaking in my first pair of binoculars, a Sibley field guide and the Merlin song-identification app, but always while hiking or walking the dog. On that pier, for the first time, I had gone somewhere solely to watch birds.

In some birding circles, people say that anyone who looks at birds is a birder — a kind, inclusive sentiment that overlooks the forces that create and shape subcultures. Anyone can dance, but not everyone would identify as a dancer, because the term suggests, if not skill, then at least effort and intent. Similarly, I’ve cared about birds and other animals for my entire life, and I’ve written about them throughout my two decades as a science writer, but I mark the moment when I specifically chose to devote time and energy to them as the moment I became a birder.

Since then, my birder derangement syndrome has progressed at an alarming pace. Seven months ago, I was still seeing very common birds for the first time. Since then, I’ve seen 452 species, including 337 in the United States, and 307 this year alone. I can reliably identify a few dozen species by ear. I can tell apart greater and lesser yellowlegs, house and purple finches, Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks. (Don’t talk to me about gulls; I’m working on the gulls.) I keep abreast of eBird’s rare bird alerts and have spent many days — some glorious, others frustrating — looking for said rare birds. I know what it means to dip, to twitch, to pish . I’ve gone owling.

I didn’t start from scratch. A career spent writing about nature gave me enough avian biology and taxonomy to roughly know the habitats and silhouettes of the major groups. Journalism taught me how to familiarize myself with unfamiliar territory very quickly. I crowdsourced tips on the social media platform Bluesky . I went out with experienced birders to learn how they move through a landscape and what cues they attend to.

I studied up on birds that are famously difficult to identify so that when I first saw them in the field, I had an inkling of what they were without having to check a field guide. I used the many tools now available to novices: EBird shows where other birders go and reveals how different species navigate space and time; Merlin is best known as an identification app but is secretly an incredible encyclopedia; Birding Quiz lets you practice identifying species based on fleeting glances at bad angles.

This all sounds rather extra, and birding is often defined by its excesses. At its worst, it becomes an empty process of collection that turns living things into abstract numbers on meaningless lists. But even that style of birding is harder without knowledge. To find the birds, you have to know them. And in the process of knowing them, much else falls into place.

Birding has tripled the time I spend outdoors. It has pushed me to explore Oakland in ways I never would have: Amazing hot spots lurk within industrial areas, sewage treatment plants and random residential parks. It has proved more meditative than meditation. While birding, I seem impervious to heat, cold, hunger and thirst. My senses focus resolutely on the present, and the usual hubbub in my head becomes quiet. When I spot a species for the first time — a lifer — I course with adrenaline while being utterly serene.

I also feel a much deeper connection to the natural world, which I have long written about but always remained slightly distant from. I knew that the loggerhead shrike — a small but ferocious songbird — impales the bodies of its prey on spikes. I’ve now seen one doing that with my own eyes. I know where to find the shrikes and what they sound like. Countless fragments of unrooted trivia that rattled around my brain are now grounded in place, time and experience.

When I step out my door in the morning, I take an aural census of the neighborhood, tuning in to the chatter of creatures that were always there and that I might have previously overlooked. The passing of the seasons feels more granular, marked by the arrival and disappearance of particular species instead of much slower changes in day length, temperature and greenery. I find myself noticing small shifts in the weather and small differences in habitat. I think about the tides.

So much more of the natural world feels close and accessible now. When I started birding, I remember thinking that I’d never see most of the species in my field guide. Sure, backyard birds like robins and western bluebirds would be easy, but not black skimmers or peregrine falcons or loggerhead shrikes. I had internalized the idea of nature as distant and remote — the province of nature documentaries and far-flung vacations. But in the past six months, I’ve seen soaring golden eagles, heard duetting great horned owls, watched dancing sandhill cranes and marveled at diving Pacific loons, all within an hour of my house. “I’ll never see that” has turned into “Where can I find that?”

Of course, having the time to bird is an immense privilege. As a freelancer, I have total control over my hours and my ability to get out in the field. “Are you a retiree?” a fellow birder recently asked me. “You’re birding like a retiree.” I laughed, but the comment spoke to the idea that things like birding are what you do when you’re not working, not being productive.

I reject that. These recent years have taught me that I’m less when I’m not actively looking after myself, that I have value to my world and my community beyond ceaseless production and that pursuits like birding that foster joy, wonder and connection to place are not sidebars to a fulfilled life but their essence.

It’s easy to think of birding as an escape from reality. Instead, I see it as immersion in the true reality. I don’t need to know who the main characters are on social media and what everyone is saying about them, when I can instead spend an hour trying to find a rare sparrow. It’s very clear to me which of those two activities is the more ridiculous. It’s not the one with the sparrow.

More of those sparrows are imminent. I’m about to witness my first spring migration as warblers and other delights pass through the Bay Area. Birds I’ve seen only in drab grays are about to don their spectacular breeding plumages. Familiar species are about to burst out in new tunes that I’ll have to learn. I have my first lazuli bunting to see, my first blue grosbeak to find, my first least terns to photograph. I can’t wait.

Ed Yong is a science writer whose most recent book, “An Immense World,” investigates animal perception.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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I once dissed Journey in a concert review. Man, was I wrong

I n August 2006, I was working as an arts writer for a newspaper when my editor sent me to review a Journey/Def Leppard concert at an outdoor amphitheater in suburban Salt Lake City. Thanks to the internet, I recently dug up my review.

“If this had been a battle of the bands, the British pop-glam-metal rockers would have blown Journey off the stage,” I wrote, calling Journey “a guilty-pleasure nostalgia act.” In five years, I predicted, “we may see these guys playing the state fair.”

Almost 18 years later, Journey is one of the most beloved classic rock acts in the world. The band is currently wrapping up a triumphant 50th anniversary tour, then playing some dates in Europe before returning to the US for a series of summer stadium shows with … Def Leppard. They may be more popular than ever.

So much for my instincts as a music critic.

My reasoning back then was defensible. The San Francisco band, which formed in the ‘70s, hadn’t had a top-10 hit in more than 20 years and was struggling to find a true frontman after the departure of lead singer Steve Perry, known for his luminous voice.

But my timing was terrible. I was so wrong. And it’s all because of David Chase , some TV executives and one enduring song.

Journey’s surprising second act

Ten months later, in June 2007, millions of viewers were glued to the series finale of “The Sopranos” when Tony Soprano dropped some coins into a restaurant booth jukebox and dialed up Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” The song played out, almost in its entirety, for four tense minutes as Carmela and Anthony Jr. walked in, Meadow did some shaky parallel parking, Tony glanced repeatedly at the door and everyone waited for something bad to happen.

With its abrupt, cut-to-black ending, the episode had viewers talking for weeks and catapulted “Don’t Stop Believin,’” which came out in 1981, back up the digital sales charts. The song got another big boost two years later when it was featured in the pilot for Fox’s “Glee” and then six more times over the course of the series — bringing it, and Journey, to a new generation of listeners.

The song was already part of the culture. It had been featured in other TV shows, and the Chicago White Sox adopted it during their triumphant 2005 World Series run. But “The Sopranos” and “Glee” took it to a new level. By the end of 2009, it was the top-selling song of the 20th century.

And just like that, Journey was hot again.

For such a massive hit, “Don’t Stop Believin’” is sort of a curious tune. The chorus doesn’t come ‘til near the end, after all the verses AND the guitar solo. You can’t really dance to it. It starts out as a story about a small-town girl and a city boy meeting on a train, then dissolves into impressionistic vagueness (“streetlights,” “people”). And there is no such place as “south Detroit,” unless you count Canada.

But the song has undeniable magic as an inspirational anthem. Yes, I can journey to the big city on a train and fall in love! Yes, I can become a glee club star! Yes, I can enjoy dinner with my Mafia family in a Jersey restaurant surrounded by potential enemies and survive (maybe)!

Jonathan Cain, Journey’s keyboard player and the song’s co-writer, has said its can-do title came from words of encouragement his father gave him when he was a broke musician in Los Angeles in the 1970s.

“I was starving before I hit Journey,” Cain told CBS News . “And I was borrowing money from my father, who wouldn’t let me come back to Chicago. He said, ‘You stay there. Something good is gonna happen. Don’t stop believing.’ And he would always say that to me. ‘Don’t stop believing, Jon.’”

Over the past 15 years “Don’t Stop Believin’” has become a karaoke staple and a sing-along favorite. I’ve seen people in piano bars, at weddings and at bachelorette parties belting it out (“hold on to that feeeeeeeeeeeling!”) while thrusting their arms theatrically toward the sky. I may have been one of those people myself.

The song has even become associated with healing. In 2020, in the early weeks of the pandemic, a New York City hospital played “Don’t Stop Believin’” every time it discharged a recovered Covid-19 patient.

What I wrote in that review wasn’t fair

Is “Don’t Stop Believin’” a good song? By now, that’s almost beside the point. It’s become one of those cultural behemoths that transcends genres and decades and generations. Teens know it. Grandparents know it.

And yes, it’s been thoroughly overplayed. I’m a little sick of it, to be honest.

But on that August night in 2006 — before it became a THING — it felt just like another catchy song in Journey’s setlist. I don’t remember anything special about Journey’s show except that they were followed by Def Leppard, who brought a new level of noise and energy. For pure, visceral headbanging, it’s hard to compete with “Pour Some Sugar On Me.”

And that’s pretty much what I wrote in my review for The Salt Lake Tribune, plus a line about how Journey’s tunes were “marred by overblown arrangements and a sense that the band — what’s left of it — is clinging to fading glories.”

I think it’s important for journalists to admit their mistakes. Whatever you may think of Journey’s music, the band’s glories are still on display. In 2017, Journey was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

As a critic, I evaluated the bands’ performances that summer night as I saw them. I still stand by that assessment. But it wasn’t fair to assume that I knew what lay ahead for Journey. Life throws curve balls. And we all deserve a chance at a second or a third act.

After that 2006 tour, Journey replaced their frontman with an unknown singer they found doing rock covers on YouTube. His name is Arnel Pineda , he grew up in the Philippines and he was once homeless. When Journey reached out to him, he thought it was a prank . Now he’s a rock star, with a soaring high tenor that evokes Perry’s from back in the day.

It’s a great story. Twists of fate can change the trajectory of a song, a rock band, a life.

Four decades after their heyday, Journey still plays to packed arenas around the world. Their songs remain radio staples. Forbes recently named “Don’t Stop Believin’” the biggest pop song of all time.

That kind of achievement and staying power deserve my congratulations and respect — even if it’s 18 years too late.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

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The Importance and Role of Literacy in My Life

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Sorry, there are no results matching your search., the role of managed services in the transformation agenda.

Navigating the ongoing journey with flexible operating models

In our era of compound volatility, it’s not enough to just transform. Many companies are doing so continually , with flexible operating models that keep evolving amid constant change.

One way to create those operating models is with managed services that are backed by strong advisory capabilities. Progressive organizations are using these services to facilitate ongoing transformation initiatives that are complex and interconnected.

To enable continuous transformation, KPMG recommends a focus on several key capabilities, and managed services can play an important role in each:

Clearly articulate the vision.

A transformation is a fundamental shift in the way an organization does business, and successful initiatives start with defining exactly how the change will create value—at the strategic, financial, and operational levels. These sources of value, ranging from reputation and revenue to process improvement and productivity, become the north star for an initiative.

In addition to defining what the initiative will achieve, consider what will be required. For example, in developing the business case for a cloud transformation, forward-thinking leaders explore not only the benefits that can come from software as a service (SaaS)—such as improvements in cost, speed, and performance—but also how to sustain them long term, beyond implementation. Many leaders establish a managed services model for ongoing optimization of the platform, helping them realize the business case.  

In the transformation of a security operations center (SOC), as another example, information security leaders should consider how specifically the new SOC will enable the business—and how services will be delivered. The vision may include finding cyber threats faster, protecting critical assets, improving stakeholder trust, or securing new applications so they can be launched more quickly.

For a model that can continually deliver those benefits, with the flexibility to change course as needed, SOCs can collaborate with managed services providers in a shared responsibility model. These providers deploy advanced automation at scale while bringing skilled cyber practitioners to manage the technology.

Track value throughout the initiative.

In an environment of continuous transformation, it’s important not only to have a clear vision but also to decompose it into outcomes that can be measured along the way. This approach allows for course correction to mitigate risk.

For example, after the implementation of cloud-based recruiting software, measurable operational improvements could include:

• Improved candidate experience
• Reduced notification fatigue for recruiters
• Improved efficiency of candidate applications
• Faster administrative reporting on job requisitions
• Improved workforce diversity due to analytics on ethnicity, gender, and age

These are the kinds of sustained improvements that can come from a managed services model for platform optimization.

Similarly, a SOC transformation with a managed services model could include measurable improvements such as:

• Reduced cyber operational costs
• Reduced adversary dwell time, demonstrating that the SOC can move at machine speed to quickly eradicate a threat
• Improved customer and regulator trust

Faster speed to market for new applications, based on ongoing security monitoring and analytics in development processes

Manage ongoing change in multiple transformations.

According to recent KPMG research 1 , companies on average have three transformations running simultaneously, and a top reason for failure is inadequate change management. The increased pace and complexity of initiatives create a high risk of transformation burnout that can lead to high staff turnover.

To ease this transformation fatigue, companies can use managed services to build agile operating models that can flex up or down to meet fast-shifting priorities. Leading providers combine advanced technology, scale, and expertise to deliver key processes while evolving at the speed of business.

These providers also bring advisory services in change management, helping companies define the drivers for success—from policies and procedures to metrics and incentives—while aligning them across multiple transformations. For example, savvy providers know how to take a big-picture view, developing an enterprise-wide governance language to span overlapping initiatives.

Build a technology and data foundation to support ongoing transformation.

New technology is rarely a flip-the-switch solution that makes everything work. Technology can sometimes become a barrier that holds companies back – due to organizational disruption, poor adoption, lack of systems interoperability, or problems with the underlying data architecture. 

Leading managed services providers, on the other hand, design operations that are tech-enabled but strategy-led. That means they bring not only sophisticated technology but also collaborative professionals with expertise in business functions, processes, industries, and data management. They help ensure that tech is an enabler, not a barrier.

For example, to continually enable a SaaS transformation, the best managed services providers assist with ongoing systems integration after implementation of the platform, while managing the impact that a change in one system has in another. Systems integration is also critical for shifting data to the cloud, where it can be made usable by generative AI.

Navigating the ongoing journey

In a world of constant flux, transformation is not a fixed destination, because by the time you get there, “there” has already moved on—with rapid market changes and new ways of doing business. That’s why many companies are trying to master the art of continuous transformation, and managed services are an important part of the playbook.

Learn more about KPMG Managed Services. For an archive of my past blogs, please visit Going Beyond: Managed Services.

1 The new transformation agenda , KPMG in the US

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