As you go through life, you come across thousands (and maybe even millions) of people who will make a good, bad or lasting impression on you.

The ones you see the most throughout school, college and university will become some of your best friends.

And yes, I know some friends will go and it will be a sad moment, but you will always have a few friends for life.

They say you are who your friends are; people pick up habits from friends. Generally, when you spend so much time with someone, you end up having similar traits. For example, you may share the same jokes, hobbies and even the same taste in men or women.

But does that mean you truly know who you are?

When I was 11 years old, my best friend from school decided to move back to the Philippines. This really sucked at the time, as I was only growing up.

But eventually, I managed to find him on Facebook. From that moment on, I knew I would lose some friends, and not in a bad way.

I’ve been lucky enough to travel the past few months, where I have had the opportunity to meet some amazing people from different countries. They have completely opened up my eyes to what’s really out there.

I love my friends in the UK, but what I’m getting from my friends around the world is completely different. There is so much excitement, so many new stories and endless conversations about what the next travels are.

The best thing about it is, I won’t meet them down the road or at the local cinema. I don’t know where I will meet them. It may be at the Full Moon Party in Thailand, or during Halloween in Vegas.

But every time, it’s a different adventure.

These people are wise, ethical and kind-hearted. Generally, they have been through so much on their travels. They’ve met so many people, that their view on life and what they are looking to achieve is exceptional. Some just want to be happy, while others want to change the world to make it a better place.

These are the kinds of people who make you think outside the box. They make you want to go further and achieve more.

Traveling is not just about seeing the beautiful destinations around the world. It’s about meeting people to share those moments with.

Let’s face it: You don’t want to be watching a sunset in Koh Phi Phi, or staring at the starry sky in Indonesia alone. You want to share that moment with someone you can call a friend.

The only sad thing about having friends who travel around the world is you may not know when you will see them again. But when you do, it’s an incredible surprise and a joyful experience.

I recommend packing your bags, heading over to North America or South East Asia and talking to the first person you meet in your hostel.

You never know where you will make a traveling friend, or what impact he or she will have on your life.