Manuel Avila

Growing up, my mom was obsessed with travel. She'd drag me through the planning process—spreadsheets, budgets, itineraries - staying in hostels with me and my brother as we traveled Europe with nothing but backpacks on at 10 or 11 years old. Fast forward to summer 2020. My mom passed away. I was heading back to school in Santa Barbara, and I was struggling. I missed my friends and I didn't want...