This was a speech offered at toastmasters.

Until you spread wings, you will have no idea how far you’ll fly.
In 7 months unemployed, got to spend time traveling. 60% of the time spent on the road. All of the choices we make based on calculated risk.
Things we can do to help minimize outcomes. In the last speech, she talked about confidence in leaving the last job. That was only one part of the equation. Had to think about the realities. How was she going to manage finances? Risk assessment. She had known she had a severance package and filed for unemployment.
Where would she go? She was 25. Embarrassing or shameful to move back with parents, but her family was welcoming. Why pay rent if traveling. Taking risks afforded her to do great traveling. South Africa, Belize (yellow trip). Groupon to Belize within 24 hours. She still did a risk assessment.
Looked at everything in Groupon. Conflicts and how to overcome, lodging, flights, activities, figured out logistics. Based on a budget, it was a feasible trip. Great experience.
Knew the fun had to end and had to be serious about what to do next. For her, she wanted to do something that helped other people. Volunteer or career change? Go back to school for physical therapy? Engineering? Turned $575 cost of a trip into $60 dollars with help from friends and frequent flyer miles.
With taking risks, some things don’t go your way. Before South Africa trip, a recruiter tried to talk to her. By the time she got back, the job was filled. 2 days into the trip with parents to Saudi Arabia, she found out a cousin diagnosed with cancer. When she came back, she wanted to spend more time with her.
Three additional months of unemployment was valuable time spent with her. In December, she still didn’t’ have a job. Luck. Somehow found a job before moving out here. Risks she took worked out.