Cassie De Pecol, a young American woman, shares her story of traveling to 196 countries in 18 months, breaking two Guinness World Records. She recounts the challenges she faced, including planning, funding, and navigating complex rules. She also shares personal struggles, such as depression and self-doubt, and how traveling helped her manage these emotions. De Pecol's journey was not just about the destinations but about self-discovery, growth, and inspiring others. She emphasizes the importance of taking the next step, respecting oneself, and pursuing one's passions, citing the wisdom of Amelia Earhart: "The most effective way to do it is to do it."
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker traveled to 196 countries alone.
2. The speaker broke two Guinness World Records.
3. It took the speaker three years to plan the trip.
4. The speaker spent 18 months traveling.
5. The speaker had to follow strict rules to break the Guinness World Records, including taking only scheduled public transportation and not driving a car.
6. The speaker had to prove they visited each country, which included collecting photos, videos, tickets, GPS coordinates, witness statements, and credit card bills.
7. North Korea does not stamp passports, and credit cards are not accepted.
8. The speaker had to spend no more than 14 days in each country.
9. The speaker had trouble getting into Yemen due to terrorist activity and visa issues.
10. The speaker had to find creative ways to fund the trip, including developing business plans, finding financial backers, and filming a documentary.
11. The speaker spent countless hours planning the trip, which included developing business plans and finding financial backers.
12. The speaker spoke to over 16,000 students and collected water samples to offset their carbon footprint.
13. The speaker met with mayors and ministers and used social media to showcase the beauty of countries around the world.
14. The speaker was a woman traveling alone and faced many challenges, including fear and exhaustion.
15. The speaker had a negative experience on a reality TV show called "Naked and Afraid" and received hundreds of thousands of hate messages and death threats.
16. The speaker hit rock bottom after the TV show and wondered if they had a positive impact on society.
17. The speaker decided to go on the expedition to overcome their struggles with depression and anxiety.
18. The speaker ran out of money a quarter of the way through the expedition but continued due to their commitments to sponsors, family, and supporters.
19. The speaker believes that travel can be a life-changing experience and can help people overcome their struggles.
20. The speaker encourages people to find something that brings them excitement and devote themselves to it 150%.