ProjectExplorer: Quarterlife Educators 2.0

As their mission statement says, ProjectExplorer is here to “foster the next generation of global citizens by encouraging awareness of the world beyond a student’s own community through the creation, production, and distribution of engaging and free multimedia educational materials.” Directed by the ever patient and understanding Jenny M. Buccos, ProjectExplorer.org is a nonprofit organization that produces free, online global travel series…

Quarterlife Educators 2.0

Designed for not only classroom usage, ProjectExplorer.org provides people access to other peoples and places they may never have seen or knew existed. Jenny (pictured far right) was nice enough to let me interview some of her Explorers. The three women (pictured from far left to middle) Lindsay Clark, Vijaya Selvaraju & Jazmine da Costa, are all in their Quarterlives. They are experiencing something many of us would only dream of in our 20′s, traveling the world. Not only are they traveling, but they are helping others learn while doing so. Jenny and I both agreed that it would be a waste not to share the insights of these wonderful women. So with this interview, I was able to peer into their passions, goals and outlook of the world and the future of the next set of Quarterlifers.

Enjoy!

How would you describe the quarterlife?

Vijaya: The quarterlife represents the period in my life in which I take the time to understand who I am, and what makes me happy in life. It is a time where I consistently expose myself to new opportunities, push my comfort zone, and experiment with new ideas in an effort to expand my potential, and develop the foundation for my future goals and ambitions.

Are you/have you had a quarterlife crisis?

Jazmine: I think I had a snippet of a quarterlife crisis after graduating from Princeton. I had a BA in Anthropology and the world was telling me to go make something of myself and do what I loved, but I didn’t know what I loved. So I had a nervous breakdown instead.

What does it mean to you to be an Explorer?

Lindsay: I consider myself a team member that has to constantly bring work and input to the table in order to produce the best quality content possible. Being a ProjectExplorer.org member also means being an ambassador for the open-minded, not just my nation, in my opinion.

Jazmine: To me, being a member of “ProjectExplorer.org” means I am one of the luckiest people I know. I have the unique opportunity to get paid to do the things I truly love and am passionate about: travel and learning.

Vijaya: Being a part of the ProjectExplorer team is an honour. I am surrounded by women who are incredibly intelligent, creative, and generous. It is inspiring to be a part of a team that is as collaborative and supportive as ours.

Is your idea of an Explorer different from others?

Lindsay: I think words like ‘explorer’ and ‘travel’ could use a modern-day reevaluation and reinterpretation, since there is no more job market for guys like Magellan. I consider exploring to be about a conquest of lifelong learning rather than about geographic placement. You’re an explorer if you want to be and if you feel you’re breaking boundaries, both conceptual and physical, in your own life.

Prior to ProjectExplorer, how’d you embody being an Explorer?

Jazmine: I seize every opportunity I have to study the countries I am interested in and then make the greatest effort to visit them. In the past I have never let my monetary situation stop me from traveling. As long as I could afford the plane ticket, I could make my way on cheap hostels and street food- saving money where I could and taking in as much free culture as possible. Luckily for me I have many friends who are also avid travelers and so it was easy for me (sometimes too easy) to pick different countries to visit purely for the convenience of having a place to stay and a go-to guide.

Were you always interested in traveling/teaching?

Vijaya: I am fortunate to have been brought up in a home where travel has always been a part of my life. When I was younger, most of my trips were made to India, where the majority of my extended family resides. My mom and dad would tell me stories of how they travelled all over Europe and Asia when they were a young couple. Their stories inspired me to jump-start my travel adventures.

Does the internet feed our generation’s wanderlust?

Lindsay: I’m involved in the online travel blogging world, which means I encounter Gen-Y travelers hourly, but I also know ‘the small town bubble’ can restrict thought or movement far away from home. I would like to believe our generation is intrigued by the world and wants to experience it, but the internet does enable us to space out our escapes and changes of pace. In general, and compared to our elder generations, I’m assuming Gen-Y’ers are more open and, hopefully, less fearful of cultural differences.

Vijaya: I think that most Gen-Y’ers have a strong desire to learn about the world. Their fascination stems from various media that they encounter in their day to day lives including television shows, online forums, and magazines which communicate the wonders of different countries. Many in this age bracket try to make travel a priority, even if it means putting a dent in their wallets. For them, travel is an education that is worth investing in. It allows them to embrace different cultures and experiences and develop their global citizenship, something that is becoming more and more valued in the workplace nowadays.

How have social networks helped share and connect our generation?

Jazmine: The Internet and social networks are the driving force behind a rising globally minded generation who will want to be active in exploring and improving the world. The amount of people the Internet reaches is unrivaled by any other piece of technology, save the television. The Internet has been about connecting people and it naturally lends itself to advertising the idea that the world is open to all of us.

Of the places you’ve been, where do you want to retire?

Lindsay: If I knew what city I connected with most, I’d be there right now. I used to think it was Florence, Italy, but a couple months there proved to me I was meant for a more open society. I also, at one point, believed I was a beach bum, but a winter in Fiji proved to me I’m a bit stubborn and stuck in my ways. I like seasons and warm people, not to mention family and friends. I may be in Indiana for a while, much to my mother’s delight.

Jazmine: It is questions like this that spiral me into an anxiety ridden quarter life crisis moment. I don’t know where I will end up spending the rest of my life. I haven’t even a clue and I think that is okay. Hopefully it will be out of my mother’s house. And at least I can say that it won’t be in an office because I can think of nothing more spiritually draining than sitting in a temperature control roomed in front of a computer. I think whatever I end up doing it will involve learning and adventure, as long as I have those two things, I will be content.

Vijaya: With each new country that I visit, I find aspects of culture, climate, and people that make me consider settling down. Right now I call Toronto home, although I have considered moves to New York, London, and Florence in the past. Only time will tell where I will set up shop.

What’s the best part about educating children?

Vijaya: The best thing about an education is its ability to develop character, shape personality, and instil discipline in children. Moreover, it is inspiring to see how children use these tools to follow their dreams, and eventually become contributing members of society.

Do you ever wake up and realize that you are changing the world?

Lindsay: : No. I can’t think beyond the little efforts I know I can make right now. Long term thinking makes my brain spin.

Jazmine: I think that would be a little self-righteous if I woke up every morning thinking that. I feel the work I am contributing is important, but I don’t think I could wrap my mind around changing a whole generation’s mentality. For me it is one child at a time. I like to think of the individuals, instead of the collective, it seems more real that way.

Vijaya: It is overwhelming to think of how our program will influence future generations of travellers. When we film, I think of the children that will watch the end product of our work. It motivates me to do the best job I possibly can, because for many of them this is their only opportunity to travel. However, it is hard to grasp who these little people are, who they are going to grow up to be, and how they will in turn impact our world. It’s a lot to take in!

Can our generation do better at setting an example for younger generations?

Lindsay: Always. And we could start by canceling Jersey Shore.

What scares/excites you about the future?

Jazmine: When I think about the future I immediately think about the environment and the unsustainable rate of population growth. It saddens me to think that my children may never be able to see Lions in the wild or parts of the world that have not been reached by a Mac Donald’s. I am scared to think where we will end up if we do not slow down, resources we are using and make more conscious decisions to preserve our planet.

Vijaya: It makes me happy to know that the world is shaping up to be more understanding and open minded. Progressive thinking has made a difference in how people treat each other, and I can only imagine the leaps that we will take in bringing people together over time.

Conversely, it scares me to think of the people out there that try to destroy this very notion.

What’s the one thing in the world you wouldn’t change, now or in the future?

Jazmine: If there were one thing that I would not change it would be diversity. Not only is it boring for everything to be the same, it is dangerous.

Anyone want to add in anything we missed?

Jazmine: I feel like a lot people have quarter life crises because they are scared to step off the conventional life path paved by so many. But stepping off that path is becoming easier since many are admitting the 9 to 5 job is not for everyone. It was stepping off that path that led me to ProjectExplorer.org and it has been one of the best things ever to happen to me. There is not a day that goes by that I am not amazed by Lindsay, Vijaya or Jenny. These three women are some of the most driven, committed and talented people I have worked with and I am humbled by their ambition. I do not think we would be as successful as a team or as an organization if we did not believe in the importance in opening up the world for as many children as possible.

What’s your one ambiguous, yet profound tip you’d like to leave?

Lindsay: Follow your passions toward the right career, and let that path grow organically. Sometimes we don’t know where our passions will land, and making too many plans can obstruct your vision.

Jazmine: Life is about creating yourself, not finding yourself. So stop looking.

Vijaya: Believe in yourself. Never let others tell you what you can and can’t do. Acknowledge your ambition and abilities, and always fight to fulfill your dreams.

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About the Women:

Lindsay

A passion to pursue performing and fine arts moved my family and me away from a small town, but during my quest for got a coveted internship with a travel company, gained the skills to be a serious travel documentarian, and became committed to a creative and nomadic lifestyle. There isn’t a line between my work and play, so my hobbies are what I do professionally: read, write, create videos, travel. I have very few favorite pastimes because I have trouble rating one experience over another, aside from dancing, which is second nature to me. I’m often grooving, and I don’t even know it.

Jazmine

I graduated from Princeton in 2009 with a BA in Anthropology and excavated two archaeological sites: one in France and one in Turkey. I am an avid traveler and visited my first country when I was a freshman in high school. I have since been to 14 countries. In my ideal world I would be a female version of Indiana Jones, minus all the Nazis/ fighting with the natives. I love being outside, bouldering and encouraging people to have as much creative, free fun as possible. I have worked a wide arrange of jobs since graduating, some highlights include interning at the National 9-11 Memorial Museum, working for Narativ Inc, a storytelling consulting company, and my current role as Community Correspondent for ProjectExplorer.org. My travel experience in combination with my archaeology background and my puppeteer skills are what set me apart from over 300 applicants and got the attention of Jenny Buccos. Aside from working post-production for the ProjectExplorer.org Mexico series, I am a full time Playground Associate at the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, part time instructor at Brooklyn Boulders- teaching kids to climb and as a tour guide at Tigers: Tracking a Legend- an interactive, multimedia exhibit about tracking the big cats through the jungles of India.

Vijaya

I worked through my university career as an Associate Producer on a Canadian trivia game show called “Reach for the Top” which helped cement my love for media. Post-graduation I had the opportunity to work on the first season of So You Think You Can Dance Canada as an Assistant Talent Coordinator, and made my mark in front of the camera as a panellist on MTV Canada’s, The Aftershow. My love of travel took me to Europe, where I began to document personal diaries of my time abroad in a Youtube series called ‘Foodcapades’. From the gelato shops in Florence, to the storefront at Harrod’s in London, to a traditional Saree draping in India, I’ve covered some interesting experiences around the world. I quickly came to realize that media was my calling, and that I wanted to establish a career in front of the camera. Cooking is one of my favourite hobbies. I’ve been a foodie ever since I was a little girl, and love experimenting in the kitchen.