The Young Leader | The Young Leader

July 13, 2015 by The Young Leader

Top Five Noteworthy Instagram Campaigns

Global Leadership Adventures strives to send you to some of the most amazing places to do some of the most amazing things, and what better way to prove that than our Instagram account. In light of our #MyGLA campaign at @GLATEENS on Instagram, here’s a list of five noteworthy Instagram accounts and campaigns to toss a follow and spice up your feed with positivity, progressive thoughts and beautiful summer landscapes.

@NatGeoTravel

– National Geographic’s account focused strictly on the beautiful places all of you travel to is definitely one to check out. If you love beautiful landscapes and interesting travel pictures, this is definitely the account to follow. Tag a picture of your worldly travels with #NatGeoTravel to see if you can get your picture featured on National Geographic’s account

@AirBNB

– Airbnb has done wonders for the world of travel and temporary housing, but what’s even cooler is the way they use their Instagram account to highlight those who take part in sharing their home and those who stay in those homes. If you’ve been lucky enough to stay at one of Airbnb’s houses, take a picture with #AirBnb and you could have your picture shared on their account.

#LikeAGirl

– This is one seriously inspiring Instagram campaign to look into. The #LikeAGirl Campaign premiered in May 2014 and restarted it’s second bout in May of 2015. The campaign was started by Always feminine products and has a message deeper than any material object. #LikeAGirl is Always’ overtly successful attempt to bring awareness to the fact that doing things “Like A Girl” should no longer be seen as an insult. Tag a picture of yourself redefining this gender stereotype with #LikeAGirl to support their cause and women everywhere.

@TheGoodQuote

– This account may not have anything to do with travel and beautiful scenery, but it is full of positive vibes and good thoughts. Traveling can get difficult sometimes and what better pick-me-up than some comical, yet inspirational quotes from an IG account that only promotes positivity. Follow @TheGoodQuote and use #TheGoodVibeTribe on any of your pictures hosting positive vibes to be featured on one of their GoodVibe accounts

@JimmyFallon

– If you’re looking to follow a hilarious, progressive and genuinely interesting Instagram account, Fallon has you covered. Jimmy’s account is run by an extremely intelligent and fun team who strive to show his followers the best of Jimmy and the world he influences. Look to Jimmy’s account to see what new Instagram campaign he is supporting or possibly starting, you’re bound to find something great.

Contributed by Joshua Schwartz

July 12, 2015 by The Young Leader

Why Teens Should Use Instagram When They Travel Abroad

When traveling abroad there are many places to visit and lots of excitement, so why not share those experiences with others. Post those abroad pictures to Instagram to connect with fellow adventurers or to just share the selfies in front of the Eiffel tower. Check out the Instagram account @glateens for some incredible photos.

1. Posting photos of traveling abroad can inspire others to dream of one day going there too. It also lets your story be heard.

2. When posting photos, give tips on where to go, what places are a must see and of course the best food to eat.

3. A photo can even teach others about the new culture; what people do for fun or how to they get to and from work or school.

4. When posting a photo, tagging other people in it and the place will help connect to others. Find the people in the photo to tag and gain a few new followers and friends along the way.

5. Then there are food pictures; there can never be too many. The only thing that’s better than a sunset is the chocolate beignet for breakfast. Besides, if you didn’t Insta it, did you really eat it?

6. There’s also the saying that, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” It’s true. A picture can capture beauty in that instant, emotions felt, and friendships that will last a lifetime. When in doubt, post it.

7. Of course, travel abroad photos are sure to get ten times more likes, but they’ll also help recall the time spent in all the different places.

Contributed by Samantha Watkins

July 11, 2015 by The Young Leader

Seven Reasons to Get Your Friends to Follow @GLATEENS this Summer

You probably already know that Global Leadership Adventures has an Instagram account (I know, we’re hipsters), especially if you’ve already traveled through GLA. And if you do know that, then you probably already know how awesome the GLA feed is! So why not tell your friends about it? I’ll help you out. Here are seven fantastic reasons to get your friends to follow @glateens on Instagram this summer!

Learn about upcoming trip openings. You and your friends can stay informed about GLA trips that still have openings, and you can see what some of the latest travel and volunteer opportunities are, all while you scroll through your Instagram feed!
Learn about important events. Not that long ago, we announced a sweet webinar with information about applying to travel with GLA. Plus, there was an awesome scholarship linked with the webinar! While this opportunity has passed, you and your friends can catch future events that you won’t want to miss by (you guessed it) following @glateens. Don’t miss out!
Catch the wanderlust bug, if you don’t already have it. It’s sort of an understatement to say that @glateens has some beautiful pictures of people and places all over the world. Plus, most of the snapshots were captured by teens who have volunteered through GLA. Seeing the vivid colors of India, the pointed peaks of Peru, and the beautiful smiles of loving friends make it hard to want to stay at home.
Get inspired by other teens’ adventures. Teens who journeyed the world with GLA use the hashtag #myGLA on Instagram to describe their unforgettable experience. Through their stories, your friends will be inspired to travel and come back with not only some awesome stories about snorkeling and bathing elephants, but also a changed worldview.
Be a part of the fun and enter our contest! If your friends have traveled with GLA before, get them in on the action. Share their amazing memories through the GLA photo and video contests on Instagram using the #myGLA hashtag, and you and your friends could win an Amazon gift card for posting!
Find some answers. Do you or your friends have questions about a GLA program? On our Instagram page, you can post your question in the comment section of a picture, and @glateens will post back an answer with helpful advice and web links. Talk about convenient!
Be inspired to make a difference. Teens really can make a difference in the world, and @glateens will inspire your friends to better themselves and the lives of others through creating much-needed change.

So, have you told your friends to follow @glateens yet? If not, share these seven reasons for why they should follow us on Instagram, and before long, they’ll be posting and sharing under the #myGLA hashtag, too! And share below what your favorite post is from our Instagram feed. We want to hear from you!

Contributed by Addie Davis

July 9, 2015 by The Young Leader

The Advantages of Taking a Gap Year before College

Preparing for your graduation day is always an exciting time. As you order your cap and own and choose a memorable quote to be published beside your yearbook picture, you may also find yourself wondering what life will be like after high school.

Perhaps you’ve already picked out a few colleges that you’d like to attend. You may even have a pretty good idea about what you want to study. However, if you’re feeling exhausted from pulling all-nighters just to study for an exam or complete the last batch of your homework assignments, you may want to consider taking a gap year before diving into college coursework.

What is a gap year?

When you choose to take a gap year, you’re essentially giving yourself a year or semester off before entering into college. You can use this time to earn extra cash for tuition payments, participate in study abroad programs or internships, and even volunteer for a cause you feel passionate about. Aside from helping you feel more prepared for college, a gap year is also useful for gaining valuable life skills and experiences.

Many high school and college students take a shorter gap year alternative during the summer – think of it as a gap summer – that tends to save them money and also avoid the classroom time lost when taking a full gap year.

How can I benefit from taking a gap year?

If you’re feeling burned out from coursework and want to break free from the classroom for a while, then a gap year could be just what you need. In addition to refreshing your mind, a gap year can help you determine what direction you want to take in life. As you explore different opportunities and expose yourself to the outside world, you’ll learn more about yourself and discover what field sparks your interest for future studies.

How can I make the most of my gap year?

There are many different ways to use your gap year wisely. If you’re a giving person that loves to help others in need, you can serve as an active volunteer in your community. Another great way to spend this time off would be to apply for an internship in a field of your choice. You’ll get to experience what it feels like to be in the working world firsthand, and you’ll gain valuable skills that can be applied in your daily life.

Finally, if you’re more of an adventurous type, you may want to try learning a new language through a study-abroad program.

Contributed by Nedda Grady

June 25, 2015 by The Young Leader

From Mountain Biking to Rock Climbing Out of Your Comfort Zone

Extreme sports are the perfect activity for any adventurous teen. Not only do they help keep you healthy, stress free, and confident, but as long as you stay safe and take precautions when participating, they can also help you see the world, bring you closer to nature, and allow you to join a community of other adventurous people from all walks of life. Here are four of the many extreme sports you should consider trying at least once.

Mountain Biking
Mountain biking allows you to travel farther and discover more than you ever could on foot. Trails, beaches, streams, mountains, and pretty much any other terrain you can imagine, a mountain bike can take you there while allowing your inner explorer to run (or bike) free.

Surfing
Surfing has a reputation of being a relaxing sunny day activity, when in reality it’s anything but. Hawaii, California, and Australia aren’t the only places you’ll find surfers, look on almost any coast, warm or cold, rain or shine, and surfers will be swimming out from the comforts of land and into the ocean surf. Surfing can be a grueling activity, pitting you against the constantly changing waves of the ocean as you balance and react to every height and directional change of the water. However, if you can master your body and board while gliding on top of the salty ocean waves, it’s a feeling like no other, and definitely worth the hard path to serenity.

Snowkiting
Snowkiting is a relatively new extreme sport, having started in the second half of the 20th century, and only really taking off in the 21st. A combination of kiteboarding and snowboarding/skiing, snowkiting is a snow-based sport that allows you to ski or snowboard along almost any snow-covered terrain, attached and propelled along by a specially-built kite flying in the air. While traditional downhill winter sports only allow you to travel in one direction, snowkiting allows you to go downhill, uphill, or along the ground with no hill at all. Some people may stay inside on a windy winter’s day, but snowkiting allows you to enjoy the weather as you surf and glide along the glistening snow-covered land. This is a sport that you can brag about without end – so long as you can master it!

Rock Climbing
The risks in rock climbing can be high, which is why it’s always recommended (like with all the other sports listed), to learn and follow all the rules and techniques before embarking out on any climbing adventures. That being said, there are several different types of rock climbing you can try, from roped indoor walls and bouldering, to more extreme climbing on ice and mountains. The satisfaction and confidence you’ll gain from going out and climbing whatever goal you set for yourself can equal or exceed the breathtaking views you’ll have, as you stand high atop recently climbed landscapes, looking out at the world from a point only a select few ever see. And you’ll be doing it before you even hit 20!

Contributed by Alex Anderson