Photo: Linda O'Brien
Cassidy O'Brien, traveled in 2018 to Monterroso, Italy, above. She shot dozen of photos at the coliseum in Rome, like the one above
By Shannon Cox
Campus Chronicle
At only 19 years old, HPU sophomore Cassidy O’Brien has visited more than three continents, eight countries and nearly every state in America.
This past year alone, Cassidy traveled with family all across Italy and Japan, a country she never thought she would have the opportunity to go. Through her travels, she has discovered a passion for writing about her explorations all over the world. She maintains a weekly travel blog discussing places she has been and where she hopes to go.
“I realized that life was too short to sit behind a desk from nine to five and you actually have to get out and see the world,” O’Brien said in a recent interview
This knowledge came with loss when one of her dearest childhood friends past away from Leukemia in 2011. Max Bramwell and Cassidy had practically been friends since birth. They grew up next
“I realized that life was too short to sit behind a desk from nine to five and you actually have to get out and see the world ”
door neighbors, and spent nearly every day together. Cassidy and him would often discuss traveling together, but were unable to make these dreams a reality because of his illness. She hopes she can one day travel to every place they had dreamed of traveling to together, in his honor.
“Max always talked about traveling all over the world as a flight attendant. After he passed, I realized that life was too short and that I owed it to him and myself to see the world in all its forms.”
At a Glance
Hometown: Westhampton Beach, NY
Major: Psychology
Minor: Journalism
Honor: Honors Scholars Program
Job: HPU Survey Research Center
Cassidy got her beginnings in Westhampton Beach, NY. Growing up her days consisted of waiting for the last bell to ring so she and her friends could get the best spot on the beach after class. Cassidy did not like being conformed to a classroom setting, and always felt she learned the most when outside of the classroom exploring.
“Cassidy has taught me to live a life of adventure,” O’Brien’s longtime friend stated. “In high school she would often bring us to cool places she discovered in our hometown that we had never even seen before.”
She is the daughter of Scott and Linda O’Brien. Together, her parents instilled many values in Cassidy, including hard work and humbleness.
"It was the first time that traveling sparked my curiosity," she said." That's when I knew it was something I could do for the rest of my life."
“Cassidy has taught me to live a life full of adventure”
Cassidy hopes to continue traveling for work and play, in the hopes of becoming a journalist for National Geographic one day. Growing up, her parents subscribed to the magazine and it was always a staple read in her household. She enjoys reading the travel section and has recently been interested in reporting about history and culture.
"I always grew up reading the magazines and thinking how cool it would be to visit and report about far out parts of the world nobody has seen,” O’Brien said.
Photo: Brayden Obrien
Cassidy O'Brien, traveled in 2017 to Tokyo, Japan, above. She enjoyed visiting her brother, who currently works and presides there.
“Traveling has always been something important to our family,” Scott O’Brien said. “Cassidy was always especially excited to see each new destination and we knew early on that there would be no place left unexplored by our girl.”
Cassidy remembers when she traveled to Mexico for the first time at just 5 years old. It was the first time she could understand and appreciate all traveling had to offer. This trip was a turning point for Cassidy. She remembers walking down the market place in Cozumel, and appreciating how different the culture was from her own.
She will be traveling to South Africa this May in the hopes that she can expand her talent for writing and travel reporting. She plans to report about all South Africa has to offer, including African wetlands, sand forests, and will even have the opportunity to spend 9 nights in the Great Kruger National Park. Along her travels, Cassidy will be uploading her online blogs weekly, and possibly creating video content of her journey.
If you would like to follow Cassidy and her journey throughout South Africa this May, visit her Website and Blog at cobrien46.wixsite.com.
