Dear future me,
Writing to yourself is strange. It feels like speaking to someone who doesn’t exist yet, but whom you know will one day look back. I’m writing to make sure these thoughts don’t disappear—to remind you why you chose a different path, and why you hoped to leave a mark in every direction you wandered.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the word wanderlust. There’s no direct translation for it in Spanish, and yet I’ve felt it deeply. It’s more than a desire to travel, it’s the drive to explore, to connect, to be curious about the world, and to take care of it as you go. I find it fascinating that another language gave me the word to describe something I always carried but never knew how to express. That’s the power of learning across cultures, it helps us define ourselves through others.
To me, wanderlust isn’t about escaping; it’s about growing with purpose. Studying abroad is part of that mission. A chance to explore new cultures, overcome challenges, and become the version of me that you now are. Even the United Nations recognizes this mission in its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (https://sdgs.un.org/goals).
I’m especially excited to continue this journey in Bristol, a city known for its leadership in sustainability and environmental action. As the UK’s first European Green Capital, Bristol continues to be a hub for climate innovation, community-led green projects, and inclusive environmental policies. At the University of Bristol, I’ve already explored ways to get involved from joining Climate Action Bristol, to participating in tree-planting efforts (https://www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/museums-parks-sports-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/trees-and-meadows/one-tree-per-child/help-plant-trees-in-bristol) and zero-waste student initiatives. This placement isn’t just an academic opportunity it’s a chance to live sustainably in one of the UK’s most forward-thinking cities. I see Bristol as a place where wanderlust and responsibility come together.
Millions of people feel wanderlust but don’t have a word for it. Maybe you’ve shared it with someone who felt it too because sometimes, giving someone a word gives them identity. Maybe someone remembers you as “the wanderlust boy.” I like that. Because that memory such as culture, language, and tradition is something worth preserving. That’s cultural sustainability: building understanding, not just taking photos.
And what about the footprints on the earth? I hope you’ve learned to explore gently. Maybe you helped advance Goal #12 (sustainable consumption) and Goal #13 (climate action) by choosing local over luxury, walking tours over buses, and reusable bottles over single-use plastics. Perhaps you volunteered in conservation or planted a tree, what a dream!!!! If not, here’s a start: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/sustainability/ .Wanderlust should never mean leaving damage behind, it should mean learning how to be a guest in the world, not just a visitor.
Wherever you are, I hope you still feel that same flame not just to go far, but to go with meaning. And remember that the real unit of richness are the memories you collect and share.
Love,
Your past self
