For those of us coming from a third world country, traveling is a privilege. And with visa approvals, for a Pakistani like me, traveling is a privilege that is often out of reach.

I am telling you one part of my traveling story that is full of struggle, failure, pain, success, relief, and achievement; it is a story which recycles every time in this exact sequence: As a young student, I have the privilege to travel and live in four countries a year exploring different societies and cultures at the worlds first traveling high school, THINK Global School (TGS). But, this process is often complicated due to my Pakistani passport, and while I should be out in the world engaging in experiential learning, life-altering encounters, and lessons in growth, Im often left at home.

A never give up attitude aided in getting all of these visas, and it allowed me to break the stereotypes held by Pakistanis that traveling is impossible and unworthy of consideration.

As per the first year of my traveling with TGS, my destinations varied from Peru to US, and from Morocco to Canada. For a Pakistani like me, these were dream places to explore. Thoughts of hiking along Inca trails to Machu Picchu and enjoying walks through the narrow medina streets of Fez were permanently etched in my head. My traveling dreams were coming true; however, it was accompanied by fear. Fear of losing the privilege through no actions of my own. Afterall, dreams and fear go hand-in-hand.

It is a struggle to get visa stamps on my green Pakistani passport, the one that stands second to last on the Global Power Passport Rank by Passport Index. From a rejected US visa to a six-week long process for my Moroccan visa (constituting application disapproval four times), from no Peruvian embassy in Pakistan to an attempt of getting a third country national visa for Canada, it all has been a struggle that initially was full of failures. Failure to apply on time due to numerous required documents and making it to our set destination on time. With rejections and no-way-out situations, it accumulated to the level of pain. Nothing seemed more daunting and stinging to this 18-year old than this pain. Excitement for traveling with peers from all around the world turned into anxiety.