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Amidst the hustle and bustle of an airport, where the sounds of announcements and rolling luggage filled the air, I found myself filled with an exhilarating sense of anticipation. Most of my classmates from Columbia Universitys Graduate School of Journalism were grappling with the fatigue of jet lag, but I was too animated by the excitement of our journey to Ireland to feel even a hint of sleepiness.

This 10-day trip was part of our "Covering Religion" class, a unique opportunity where we would immerse ourselves in diverse religious practices and beliefs. Our itinerary was packed: we would visit churches, synagogues, mosques, and a tranquil Buddhist retreat. The chance to engage with a multitude of faiths, from Sikhs to Catholics, and even to have an audience with the then-president of Ireland, Mary McAleese, was a dream come true.

For me, this trip was not just an academic assignment; it marked my first venture onto a new continent and was only the second country I would visit in my life, the first being Canada. As the charter bus pulled away from the airport, the rolling green landscape of the Emerald Isle greeted us, and I couldnt help but share my astonishment with my seatmate. "Ive only ever been to Canada and a handful of states," I admitted, surprised to see their astonishment at my limited travel experience.

At the time, I was working as a reporter at a small local newspaper, earning $34,000 a year before taxes. My financial situation forced me to live with my parents, trying to save every penny just to make ends meet. The stark contrast between my background and that of many of my Ivy League peers was often hard to ignore.

While Columbia was home to a diverse range of students, I often found myself feeling out of place. Many of my classmates had the luxury of taking a year off to focus solely on their studies, whereas I had to juggle both work and school part-time. The burden of financial realities loomed large over me, and I couldn't take the risk of stepping away from a job that provided essential income, especially with looming student loans and accumulating interest.

Being a first-generation graduate student, my upbringing was marked by modesty. My mother was retired, relying solely on her pension, which did not provide much financial cushion. Reflecting on my undergraduate days at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, I recalled a more equitable environment where many of my peers shared similar challenges. Most of my friends came from economically disadvantaged backgrounds or were the first in their families to pursue higher education, and we banded together, often working various on-campus jobs to help cover tuition and living costs.

In stark contrast, entering Columbia was a culture shock for me. Though I was not entirely alonethere were a few students who understood the weight of financial burdensmany of my classmates hailed from affluent backgrounds, some even the children of diplomats. The richness of perspectives was refreshing, with real-world discussions about journalism practices from classmates representing countries like France and Germany enhancing our collective learning experience. However, the divide in our socioeconomic backgrounds became increasingly apparent as I found myself hesitating to share my own experiences of summer jobs and the lack of vacations.

Now, at 41 years old and over a decade after I earned my graduate degree, I can proudly say that I have paid off most of my student debt. The financial stability I have achieved has allowed me to allocate a significant portion of my disposable income to travel, something that had once felt like a distant dream. Since then, I have explored all 50 states and ventured to 25 countries, with plans for more adventures on the horizon.

While I am grateful for the financial freedom I now enjoy, a part of me still resonates with that working-class girl who was once scraping by. My journey has been filled with challenges, but it has also been a testament to perseverance and the relentless pursuit of dreams.

Carmen Cusido is a Cuban-American writer based in northern New Jersey.