Around the World by 25

By the age of 25, Cameron Mofid had stepped foot in every one of the world’s 195 countries. The milestone is remarkable enough on its own—fewer people have completed the feat than have traveled into space—but what makes his story stand out is the purpose behind it.

Mofid grew up with obsessive-compulsive disorder, a condition that worsened during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Searching for a way forward, he came across an article about global travelers and realized the rarity of visiting every nation. The idea became a mission. Over the next five years, he would balance graduate studies, part-time jobs, and near-constant movement across borders in pursuit of it.

Travel as Treatment

Unlike many record-setters, Mofid wasn’t chasing bragging rights. For him, travel became a form of therapy. The unpredictability of life on the road—missed buses, unplanned layovers, countries with limited infrastructure—functioned as exposure therapy, pushing him beyond the rigid patterns that OCD had reinforced. Instead of avoiding uncertainty, he was forced to embrace it.

Lessons from the Road

The journey was far from glamorous. He was arrested in Djibouti when authorities doubted his intentions, contracted illness in remote areas, and navigated dangerous regions where safety was never guaranteed. But he also experienced moments that revealed the power of human connection: families who shared food with him during storms, strangers who welcomed him in conflict zones, and communities who showed that generosity often exists where resources are scarcest.

Along the way, he developed a deeper sense of empathy. One of the most formative experiences came in Nigeria’s floating settlement of Makoko, where poverty was extreme and opportunities scarce. Moved by what he saw, Mofid launched a fundraiser that eventually attracted global attention—including a major donation from NBA star Kyrie Irving. What began as a simple gesture evolved into The Humanity Effect, a nonprofit supporting education and healthcare initiatives in underserved regions.

Beyond the Passport Stamp

Mofid is now among the youngest people to complete the circuit of all UN-recognized countries. But the accomplishment is less about the list and more about the perspective it gave him. His obsessive routines have loosened. His focus has shifted from tallying destinations to building lasting impact.

In his own words, the journey taught him that “the world is far more united by kindness than divided by borders.” For those of us who see travel as more than leisure, his story underscores the point: exploration at its best isn’t about escape, it’s about engagement—using the world not as a backdrop, but as a bridge.

This article was informed by reporting from Forbes and The Guardian.