I left medical school to live in a van and travel full-time; worth it

At 24, she found herself in the first year of medical school surrounded by anatomy notes, six cups of coffee, and a schedule that left her working 12 to 16 hours a day. What began as a pursuit of a title and the hope of helping people became a cycle of lectures, cadavers, and exams that brought her to tears; after many sleepless nights and difficult conversations with herself, she quit.

Before med school, she had worked as a first responder during the COVID-19 pandemic and often talked with patients about travel. Those conversations, and the frequent mention of unfinished bucket lists, made her realize how easily life can slip by. The activities that once brought her joy—photography, travel, and creativity—had vanished, and she knew the lifestyle was no longer sustainable.

She bought an RV from a local dealership and set out without a perfect plan, only a craving for adventure and a willingness to figure things out.

medical school, van life, rv living, travel, first responder, covid-19, photography, creativity, burnout, cadavers