For most seniors, summer is a time of grad parties, goodbyes and relaxation. For Reilly Ringness, all of that is true — but he’s also finding his own way of entering a new chapter in life.

So, where is Ringness going? The answer: a cross-country road trip.

“It’s gonna take about five, six weeks. I’m going to North Dakota, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona. New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, and then I’m driving home,” said Ringness.

Ringness has always aspired to travel, and the summer after senior year seemed like the perfect opportunity to step outside the familiar state of Minnesota.

“I haven’t seen a lot of the US, [and] I haven’t really been out of the country or anything like that. I’m going to the U (of M) next year, so I’m not really gonna have a chance to see other states,” Ringness said.

When Ringness started planning, he knew he was going to go alone. It’s a liberating opportunity for him to get to spend time how he wishes, stepping outside his comfort zone of Minnesota and getting to connect with strangers and be present in the moment. He plans to spend parts of the trip camping at campsites in different states and go hiking. Despite the independent nature of the trip, his motivation is simple: to explore.

“It’s not like a find-yourself-journey. I’m pretty excited for the desert. I really like Arizona. So I’m excited to see New Mexico and Texas and those kinds of places. I’ve never been to California either, so I think that’s what I’m most excited about,” said Ringness.

In addition to visiting new states, Ringness is looking forward to furthering his hobbies along the way.

“I definitely want to take a lot of hikes, especially because I’ll be driving so much. It’ll let me keep up my steps. But I also am bringing my camera so I’m hoping to see wildlife and what animals other states have. And just kind of meeting new people,” Ringness said.

Ringnesses’s summer plans also leave time for friends and farewells in addition to travel. He’s spending the first few weeks of June in the cities to attend graduation parties and returning at the beginning of August to spend time with friends before they head their separate ways for college.

Though Ringness has found that scheduling a road trip and creating an itinerary by himself is difficult, it can be done relatively inexpensively and can be budgeted. Ringness is funding the trip using money he earns at work. If possible, he encourages other students to get outside their comfort zones and explore the world.

“I definitely encourage people to go out and see the rest of the world but it just depends on your comfortability — if you want to do it in your car, or if you want to go to a hotel,” said Ringness.

In two months, Ringness will be traversing the country in his car and on his own money. From there, it’s onto college. A new chapter of personal growth is only beginning.