She did it. Roy in one of her travels. The photo was taken from her Instagram.
MELISSA ROY
the first woman of South Asian origin to travel to all 193 sovereign nations in the world in 2019. She chooses to circumnavigate the world with local hosts instead of hotel stays. Melissa’s journey is unique, considering she didn’t have the opportunity to travel as a child like most travel explorers. Michigan- born, she saw travel as an escape from the economic struggles of her childhood as a first- generation Asian minority in America. Nevertheless, she proved that anything was possible. Believing in staying close to her roots, she chose Bangladesh as her last country to visit as a sentimental tribute to her late father, whom she last saw at the tender age of six. She told Urban Asian in an interview that she hopes to inspire others and build more meaningful connections. She keeps in touch with over 200 friends that she met while traveling the globe.
“I have an insatiable curiosity for the unknown and building meaningful connections. What we need is an open heart and a desire to connect with others, to understand them. A little bit of empathy goes a long way.” – 34-YEAR-OLD MELISSA ROY While many fear the unknown, not knowing what to expect of the future, Melissa Roy takes the opposite view. She finds the unknown to be a place to tap into her potential. Believing in herself and financing her travels without sponsorship deals or free trips pushed Melissa Roy to become
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