Name: Mia
Pronoun(s): She, her
Nationality: American
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Current location: Belgrade, Serbia
Occupation: Copywriter
Meet Mia
I’ve always been impulsive and I never stay in the same place for too long. I moved from Portland, Oregon to Minot, North Dakota, then back to Portland, doing at least seven different jobs, three multi-state road trips, one marathon, and three different majors.
My favorite book is On the Road, by Jack Keroac, and I share his delight in experiencing anything (no matter how weird) and love the unique little quirks in each person I meet. After finally graduating from university in 2018, I bought a one-way ticket to Barcelona and ended up living in Belgrade, Serbia. I’ve been here since July 2020, and am waiting out the quarantine and running my online copywriting business.
On Education
Did you attend college? If so, where, and how did you choose that school/those schools?
I didn’t go to college right out of high school. Well, I did… but I dropped out after one year. I experimented with jobs as a baker, waitress, bank teller, housekeeper, and personal assistant. But I finally went back to university to study linguistics and become an ESL teacher. Since I had already lived in three different states, I knew I wanted to travel and move a lot, so English teaching seemed the best way to do it.
What advice would you give someone who isn’t interested in attending a traditional college or university, but knows they want to travel?
Looking back, I’d say there are so many more options than teaching English
You can be fully remote by studying marketing or communications, journalism, or even psychology (to be an online therapist). You can also learn many of those skills through non-traditional learning platforms like Udemy or hiring a coach in that field. I taught in Prague for a while but realized I wanted to be fully free. That’s when I started freelance writing, which eventually turned into my own business.
Professional Background
Did you ever feel unsure of your career path?
If anyone has ever had a rocky career path, it’s me. I bounced from one thing to the next, even after choosing a major and going through all that hard work.
I’d say it’s fine to experiment, but the reason I had such a hard time is this: I wasn’t honest with myself
Writing has always been my passion and my deepest desire but I believed I couldn’t make money or build a career out of it, so I always pushed it back.
Do you feel more settled in your career path now? If so, when did that feeling arrive?
Traveling around was what really forced me to think about this. After I tried teaching ESL on several platforms, I also realized I need to be my own boss, make my own schedule, and live anywhere I want. When I was finally brave enough to apply for a job at a copywriting agency, I discovered how much I loved it and how much money I could make. I feel so fulfilled as a copywriter. I’ve had my business for almost a year now and can’t wait to keep going for many more.
On Lifestyle
Why do you enjoy traveling?
I love traveling because it challenges me to always make the most of every day. When I’m traveling, I don’t binge watch Netflix because I’ve given up so much to get here.
I want to see all the things, meet all the people, and have something amazing to write about at the end of each day
Lots of people think traveling is cool, but not something they can see themselves doing. What are the characteristics of a traveler or person who would enjoy living abroad, in your opinion?
If you like the idea of traveling but don’t see yourself doing it, then ask yourself why. Is it for lack of money? Are you afraid? Then explore those questions and learn how to overcome them. The fact that you’re thinking about it probably means you want to do it. So, give it a shot. You can always go home if you decide you don’t like it.
One last question
What advice would you give to a young person who knows they want to travel but aren’t sure where that fits in with the rest of their lives?
Your whole life doesn’t have to be planned out right now. I’m glad I took my time to figure out what I really wanted before I committed to something I didn’t love.
Before I left on my big backpacking journey, I took a totally random weekend trip. I found a cheap flight to Chicago, booked a room, and went there for a few days. I went to museums, had a romantic fling, and walked for hours. That hooked me. So try something like that if you want to get your feet wet before you spring for a one-way ticket.
Editor’s note: This interview has been lightly edited for concision and clarity.
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Thank you for reading Fearless Friday no. 12 Mia!
If you connected with Mia’s story, she invites you to connect with her on her website and Instagram:
IG: @mia.copywriter
Website: evokewriting.com
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