This is what dreams are made of

What if you could take everything you’ve ever dreamed of doing and make it real, right now? Not later, not someday—but now. That’s exactly where I am as I sit here, writing this post and packing up the last pieces of my life in Australia. My name’s Kayla Kerendian, and this is my story, my adventure, my dream in motion.

Predestined for Re-Wilding

Some dreams take root early in life, and for me, that dream has always been tied to the ocean. Growing up in Greenwich, Connecticut, I fell in love with the waves, the warmth of the sun, and the feeling of being surrounded by the sea. Every year, my mom, my brother, and I would escape to the US Virgin Islands or

somewhere else in the Caribbean. Those trips became my world—I’d snorkel off catamarans, dive into the deep, and marvel at the colorful life below. The ocean was my playground, and I knew even then that I wanted more of it.

When I was in 8th grade, my mom sent me on a Broadreach trip to the Caribbean where I lived on a catamaran for a month with a group of middle school students from around the USA. We sailed from St. Maartin to Granada, St. Kitts, Nevis, Saba and St. Barts on a 60ft Cat. This is where my love for scuba diving flourished, leading me to eventually create the scuba club at my high school. On this trip, we became PADI Open Water divers and I learned to live by the rhythm of the ocean.

A few years later, my mom sent me to the Galapagos Islands, with a group of high schoolers to explore a place that would eventually deepen my love for marine life and conservation.

In high school, I soaked up knowledge in honours marine bio and APES (environmental science), learning all I could about the ecosystems I’d come to love. Travelling to the beach for field work once a week was a privilege, shaping my love for the outdoors even more. This fascination led me to dream of working as a scuba diving instructor on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, surrounded by the vibrant underwater worlds I’d always wanted to explore. So, I signed up for a gap year, determined to live that dream before anything else.

Now, a few years later and halfway through a Bachelor of Christian Ministry... I’m coming back to that dream with fresh eyes and a deeper sense of purpose. I’ve learned that some dreams never fade; they only grow, deepening in color and intensity until they’re impossible to ignore. The call of the ocean and the desire to travel have only become stronger, so I’m embracing them fully. I’m selling everything I own in Brisbane, Australia, leaving behind the traditional path, and setting off with my heart wide open and my dreams as my compass. First stop? Hawaii, where I’ll spend a week soaking up the ocean, hiking and adventuring before heading to Nicaragua in Central America. There, I’ll work as a freediving instructor for a few months, putting my skills to use while discovering a completely new corner of the world.

Why Go All In? Why Now?

For years, I felt like I was playing by rules that never suited me. The world is built for the traditional path—settle down, secure a career, follow a step-by-step plan. But I’ve realized I want something different. I want the world to work for me, not the other way around. Instead of waiting for the “right time,” I’m creating my own perfect timing. This is for her... the girl who never fit school and wanted to explore. This is to show her: I can, I am, and I will continue to live to passionately for what I love.

When you grow up dreaming of something, it’s easy to put it off and think, “One day, I’ll do it.” But I’ve reached a point where I'm fed up with this life I've created. I want to live now, experience now. Taking this leap is my way of choosing to live for the things I’m passionate about and build a life that’s true to who I am. Freediving has become one of those passions, and being able to teach it while traveling is a dream that brings together everything I love about the ocean, exploration, and personal growth. It’s a way for me to inspire others, to show that chasing dreams is possible if you’re willing to step off the well-worn path. But more than that, I want to help others pursue their goals. Personal training and coaching mean so much to me because I get to witness people push beyond their limits and grow stronger.

This blog, Liberate Your Soul, is the space where I’ll share that journey. I want to help people see the freedom of living outside the usual 9-to-5, of making money while traveling and pursuing what lights you up. And I hope that by sharing what I’m learning, from traveling on a budget to growing online income, I can show others that it’s possible to create a life that works for them.

Making Money Online While Living the Dream

Yes, it’s possible. I've seen it done on instagram time and time again. I want to write about what I’m learning and share tips on how to make money online while traveling. There are so many ways to live outside the traditional “9 to 5” box, and I’m determined to build my income around travel and creativity. My goal is to inspire anyone reading this to explore their own version of a “working holiday”—one where you can chase the sun, explore your passions, and make an impact on your terms.

What’s Next?

Beyond Hawaii and Nicaragua, my sights are set on some of the most beautiful and unique places on earth: Micronesia, French Polynesia, the Maldives, Madagascar, Africa, and Europe in the summers, wherever the sun leads me. I’ll be sharing it all—blogging, posting videos, film photos, capturing every moment of this life that I’ve dreamed of for so long. I’m ready to share what I’m passionate about and to live authentically and fully.

This journey is about freedom, creativity, and discovery. It’s about making decisions that align with who I am. I want this space—Liberate Your Soul—to be more than a blog; I want it to be a place where you can follow along and maybe even get inspired to take your own leap, whether it’s a small step or a giant, life-changing one.

So, here’s to the adventure, to the dream, to the first step. This is what dreams are made of, and this time... I'm diving in with both feet.