IF THERE’S ONE THING this article is about, it’s freedom. It’s not about this city I went to or that place I went to. This article is about the freedom to travel alone at 16, and the desires, independence, and love of life this freedom has taught me to embrace.
I’m a 16-year-old from the Boston area. This past year I managed to persuade my mother to let me go on some trips alone. I did everything on my own: staying in hostels, flying on planes, figuring out train and bus routes, and visiting the tourist attractions.