Nabila Ismail quit her six-figure health tech job to travel for a year before she turned 30. Although she faced loneliness and doubt, she found personal growth during her career hiatus. When Ismail returned from her trip, she was unable to find a job and now runs a travel agency. company.
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This told essay is based on a conversation with Nabila Ismail, a 30-year-old from New York who quit her job to travel. Edited for length and clarity.
When I was in pharmacy school, I promised myself that I would take a year off from work and travel before I turned 30. I knew I would get used to my career as a pharmacist, but I didn’t want it to hold me back.
My plans were derailed when I unexpectedly moved into a six-figure health tech job that I loved. Before I knew it, I was 28 years old and had no plans to travel. Then I found an old diary entry and realized now or not.
I quit my job two weeks later.
Traveling wasn’t always glamorous and I faced great loneliness and loss of direction. In those vulnerable moments, doubt crept in and I wondered if I had made the right choice to quit my job. My career gap has changed the way I approach my career.
I had a job I liked, but I still felt dissatisfied.
After receiving my Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University at Buffalo in 2019, I began working as a retail pharmacist in Los Angeles. It was a really rewarding job.
I worked 7 days, 3 days off, and was on my feet for most of the 12 hour shift. I had no life outside of work. On holidays, I stayed home alone and ran my personal pharmacy and travel blog, which I started in 2012. While looking for a new job, I found a marketing position at GoodRX. I used my blog as a portfolio and got hired.
My new job was completely remote, so I started renting monthly across the US and started creating more travel content on my blog.
Nabila Ismail in backpacking gear at the airport. Nabila Ismail
I loved working at GoodRX. Every day was unique and I really enjoyed having creative control, but I couldn’t resist the nagging desire to travel more. I told myself for months that I would never find a job this good again. I decided I should focus on my career and start a family.
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An old diary I wrote in pharmacy school about my elaborate plan to travel for a year at age 28 immediately inspired me to give two weeks’ notice and commit to a year of unpaid leave.
The timing was perfect, but it felt like a bad breakup.
I was scheduled to host my first group trip on my next PTO, a two-week vacation in Bali with a group of female travelers. I had decided not to go home after the trip. Leaving my job felt like a bad breakup. It was a really difficult decision, but I knew it was an opportunity to take a risk.
Since I was earning a living wage on my travels, I was confident that if I followed the math, I would be able to cover the cost of the trip.
Nabila Ismail traveled to Pakistan for the first time since she was a child. Nabila Ismail
I just took a break from my career because I wanted to do something without financial attachment. I volunteered as a refugee health worker in Lebanon and learned Arabic while volunteering as a social media manager in a hostel in Jordan.
One of the most special moments was spending two months in Pakistan, where my parents are from and where my grandparents live. Developing my identity as a Pakistani-American was really great.
There were moments when I thought I had failed.
My trip wasn’t just about exploring places, it was about exploring myself. I journaled, cried, read books, and turned inward to think deeply about what I wanted out of life. Oddly enough, I missed the predictability of a full-time job.
I was tired of always being on the go with no plans or a home base. Every time I made a move, I had to find out where I was going, how I was going to get there, and what I was going to buy. I had to keep it “on” at all times to keep myself safe. After six months, I wanted to go home and rest.
I told other solo travelers about my overwhelmed feelings, and most said they felt the same way. They advised me to stay longer at each location or return home if necessary. I decided to be persistent and achieve my goal.
Struggling to rehire after 12 months on the road
During the last few months of my trip, I started applying for full-time content marketing roles in the healthcare and technology fields. When I didn’t hear from any companies, I became worried that I had made a big mistake by interrupting my career.
I returned home after a year, but left two weeks later to travel for another six months. I was getting more and more requests to host group trips and build my brand to influence travel.
Nabila Ismail from Mexico. Nabila Ismail
At the end of my 18 month journey, I had traveled to over 30 countries and reached a decision point. You can continue fighting for a job in the medical industry, or you can lean into what fulfills you in the moment.
I decided to quit job hunting and start doing group travel as a company. It’s been about half a year now, and I’ve been living a completely nomadic life while helping with group trips and growing my brand.
I realized it was okay to carve my own path.
It was really hard to let go of the fact that I would never return to the medical field. But my solo journey made me realize that it’s okay to carve your own path, even if it’s outside of the norm.
I also realized how much social pressure to follow a certain formula to climb the corporate ladder influenced my decisions. By letting myself go, I was able to realize what I really wanted and who I really was.
Someday I would like to return to the medical world in some capacity, but I am fully committed to an unconventional path and believe in where it will take me.
If you took a career break from a high-paying job and would like to share your story, email Tess Martinelli at tmartinelli@businessinsider.com.
