Hey, I hope everyone is well! My name is Ryan Hopson, and I am originally from a small town called Clarksdale, Mississippi. The town is famous for big annual Blues festivals and small art demonstrations downtown. Clarksdale shaped half of the person I am today, but at thirteen years old, my family moved away. Since then, we moved three more times within two years. As a result of this history of moving, I became accustomed to traveling. I also learned to live in the moment with my friends.
Relocating numerous times sparked my interest in traveling more. I enjoyed finding my likes and dislikes in many cultures, cities and communities. My first travel journey took place when I turned 16 years old. There is a high school in Columbus, Mississippi that required their students to lodge on campus. My parents freaked out hearing this bold idea of me leaving home at 16! I, however, saw this as a "golden" opportunity to grow and learn. I left the school feeling brave enough to handle big dreams. The whole experience felt great, and I'm glad I took the leap to go live on my own.
After I graduated high school, I attended Mississippi State University to study Computer Engineering. Mississippi State University (MSU) was the only school to give me a free education, so I was happy to go!
