What do you want to do before you die?

This is the question engrained into every episode of MTV's reality show, The Buried Life. Each episode they set out to accomplish one of the items on their bucket list, but then in return help a stranger complete something on their list. The team, composed of 4 guys, has done some pretty crazy things which include crashing a parade in Iowa, being dumped overboard in the South Pacific and only having 7 days to make it to safety, get married in Vegas, streaking across a Kansas City stadium and getting away with it, and much more. They made the list of their wildest dreams and now are doing whatever it takes to reach them.

Now I myself have written countless lists of places to visit, people meet, festivals to experiences, that I probably have used an entire notebook full of paper. Most of the time these lists were created when I was bored at school, reading the latest posts on Matador Network, or from watching the Travel Channel nonstop. But now just months before my 18th birthday I find myself nearing a cross road. In less than a year I will be graduated from high school, leaving my childhood behind, looking adulthood straight in the eyes. Instead of running away in fear, I decided to revisit the multitude of bucket lists I have made over the years. I laugh at seeing things like "graduate from 8th grade", "drive a car", and "leave the midwest" on the list, because I knew these things would be accomplished. My 12 year old self had to know that these simple tasks would be crossed off the list in the near future, so then why did I put them on there? Did I include them because I knew I would accomplish them, thus having the internal joy that I am following my dreams? or Did I include them because at that exact moment in time, those list items were unknowns, they could be accomplished, or they could not?

So here it is, part of my 17 year old bucket list, just some of the things that I want to do before I die. This list will be continually changing to fit my newest aspirations and desires, some of the items will get thrown off the list in time, and others will remain forever, some will be quickly accomplished, while others might never be accomplished. This list will get thrown into the box where all my other lists reside, representing one moment in my life when I was able to forget about the now and dive straight into my dreams.

Only 25 of the 100 or so items on my list:

1. Set foot on each of the seven continents. Antarctica might be tough, but if I can accomplish this, I can truly say I am a world traveler.

2. Learn one of the world's dying languages, over half of the world’s 7,000 languages will probably be “extinct” in 40 years. Why not learn Ethopia's Shabo language or the Emerillon language of French Guyana?

3.SCUBA in the Great Barrier Reef. I've had 2 years of SCUBA experience at my high school, this is definatly doable.

4. Cross a glacier on foot. With global warming beating down on us, this might be the last generation to experience this natural wonder.

5. Follow my food from field to table. In America almost every food we eat has been imported from over 1,000 miles away.

6. Skydive. I can legally do it in 2 months, can you say 18th birthday present from Mom and Dad?

7. Cross a country by only public transportation. Seems like the best way to really "meet the locals".

8. Stand on the North or South Pole. Very, very expensive goal but maybe I can catch a ride on a cargo ship or something.

9. Shake hands with someone who has changed a country. ...and then never wash my hand.

10. WWOOF. no not the sound a dog makes, World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. Living, learning, and sharing organic lifestyles.

11. See the Northern Lights in Iceland

12. Visit the world's tiny nations and micro nations. After visiting some of the largest countries in the world try visiting Monaco or Ladonia

13. Travel to outer space. Cause I for sure have $20 million dollars to spare, the view would be nice though.

14. Trek the Inca Trail.

15. Stay in one of the 10 weirdest hotels.

16. Bike across the United States.

17. Travel on the Trans Siberian Highway.

18. Backpack in Kyrgyzstan. 93 % of the country is mountains, and anyone who knows me knows my love affair with mountains.

19. Live in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand for years. These 3 countries have had my heart since I first read blogs about them, still not quite sure what drew me to them but I can't seem to get detached from them.

20. Hike the Appalachian Trail. Yep, all 2174 miles of it.

21. Summit Mount Everest...and then the 6 remaining highest summits in the world. Continuing my love of mountains this is one goal that will never be off my list.

22. Volunteer abroad in 10 different countries. I've got the United States checked off my list and hopefully this summer I will have another.

23. Change someone's life.

24. Visit all the countries in the world. I've got 2 done, only 193 to go.

25. Die having no regrets.