This coming year my daughter Sam is going to have the opportunity for some significant international travel.
She received great news this past week that she’s been accepted into the University of Central London (UCL) for her Master’s degree beginning in September.
The UK is home to four of the world’s top ten universities: Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and UCL. UCL has held a top 10 position since 2013, among global peers including MIT, Stanford, and Harvard.
She’ll be studying Computational Finance which focuses on the intersection between mathematics, statistics, computer science, finance, and economics.
Way out of my league in terms of understanding…
But perfect for her and the career in finance that she wants to pursue.
I think Sam is most excited about living in London for a year and all the opportunities for travel.
Her best friend, Daniella has been studying in Edinburgh for the past five years and she is also about to graduate. Given that they are relatively close it will be a great opportunity for them to experience Europe.
She has a lot to look forward to over this coming year.
In retrospect I feel as though I’ve had a part to play in her love of travel.
Especially since we did so much together during her teen years.
Now that she’s an independent young woman the world truly is her oyster…
That’s not just me saying that she absolutely believes it and is about to embark on a number of trips leading up to her year in London.
The first portion of her international travel adventures begins in early May.
As soon as school finishes school she’s heading to Japan with Zach and my ex for a ten-day trip to explore.
Then her and Zach are flying from Tokyo to spend time with us in Brisbane.
The two of them are also contemplating a week in New Zealand as well as visiting family in Victoria and Tasmania.
I’m heading to Toronto and her graduation in early June for a week and looking forward to spending time with her and catching up with friends.
I’m looking forward to seeing her graduate and pass this important milestone in her life. She’s worked so hard over this past five years in such a difficult area of study she totally deserves some adventures.
She was so excited when she told me because I knew what a year in London would mean to her…
It’s going to be like a breath of fresh air!
No longer just a student, she’s embarking on the next chapter of her life.
Living in a far off, and in many ways far more exotic than where she completed her undergrad (Waterloo)
Although London is a big draw, the opportunity for international travel to continental Europe is going to be even bigger.
Sam has experienced Europe before, but it’s different when you a teen and travelling with your father and sibling versus either by yourself or with a friend.
I can definitely see her nipping over to France, Spain, Portugal, or Greece for a long weekend.
As well, now Judy and I have to begin planning a visit at some juncture during her time there.
London itself also has so much to offer and for an intrepid explorer like Sam it’s going to be amazing.
Whether it’s a visit to the Tate or a Sunday morning at the Portobello Road markets there are so many cool experiences just waiting for her on her doorstep.
Oh, and of course she still has an incredibly difficult course to contend with…
It’s easy to forget that she still has her course to complete.
As I’ve said many times we just need to get out of our own way and let the universe do its thing…
She had originally applied to McGill University in Montreal for her Master’s program. However, she was not accepted into the program.
Sam was bitterly disappointed when she didn’t get accepted into the program.
As I explained to her, it just wasn’t meant to be and that something better would present itself. I knew we just had to be patient and not try and force it.
Sure enough, the universe delivered as expected.
London opens a whole new range of possibilities for Sam and not just travel ones.
Living and working in a new city I’m sure will present lots of opportunities to begin experiencing life as an adult in one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities.
As I look back on my life, I wasn’t a lot older than Sam when I embarked on my yearlong backpacking adventure around the world.
A trip that totally changed the trajectory of my life…
I realize that was a different time, and that the world is a far different place than when I first set off.
But I am confident that she, like me will fall on her feet and thrive in her new environment.
She has so much to look forward to, not sure who’s more excited about her impending year in London.
Can’t wait to hear her stories for her adventures.
Until next week.
Ciao!
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