From taking camping trips with her friends to traveling to see her sister in Scotland, Ms. Cady said she is not happy staying in one place for too long.
So when she heard about Bike and Build, a nonprofit organization that dispatches cyclists across the country to build affordable housing, it was a perfect combination of her passions.
"It was a great opportunity ... to see the country," she said. "I've never been west of Illinois."
She recently returned from the two-month bicycle trek across the country. The excursion took her from Providence, R.I., to San Francisco.
Ms. Cady heard about the organization while interviewing a college student for a story she was writing for a Rome newspaper, and she was intrigued by the concept.
"It was a way to help other people while I was challenging myself," she said, adding she was not an avid cyclist before signing up for the trip.
Program Director Kristian Sekse said participants who want to be considered for the chance to pedal across America must fill out an application form that includes an essay portion.
"We try to get a sense of motivation about the people who want to do Bike and Build," he said. The application process starts each October, and participants are chosen in November.
The ride is open to people ages 18 to 25 "who have that spark for adventure," Sekse added. Each participant must also raise $4,000.
The majority of the money is donated to student-led affordable housing projects across the country, and the rest pays for expenses incurred while on the trip.
Ms. Cady raised $4,325, and the 31 people she traveled with cumulatively raised close to $150,000. The group built nine houses across the country.
During the voyage, Ms. Cady said they often would begin their day at 4 a.m. to "beat the heat," which was "tiring" at time. Despite the early morning rides in the heat, she said the experience was "amazing."
"I got to spend the summer with people who share the same passions as I do," she said.
Both trip leaders Zach Menchini and Stephanie McBride said Ms. Cady was passionate about the housing projects.
Ms. McBride said Ms. Cady once made blueberry pancakes for everyone one morning, which went over very well.
"She always chipped in when we needed her," she said. "It was really great having her on the team."
Ms. Cady graduated from Sequoyah High School in 2004 and from Berry College in Rome in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in communications. She was an intern and videographer for the Rome News-Tribune and then served as an education reporter for the newspaper.
Last fall, she left the newspaper and hopes to begin studying nursing in the spring at Georgia Highlands College in Rome. She also wants to begin advocating for affordable housing.
In her spare time, Ms. Cady volunteers with the Lutheran Coalition for Habitat for Humanity and loves to write and do wood carving work.
The trip across the United States helped Ms. Cady develop an "appreciation for my country," which also led to her meeting "so many amazing people."
Bitten by the volunteer bug, Ms. Cady said she wants to continue helping others, preferably in the affordable housing field.
"It's a real issue," she said. "It's something that needs more attention."
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