anyone have any tips or advice for me for traveling to other cities or far away or even going into a big as a young female?

i talked to my dad about all the places i wanted to go during the spring. he said its ok and i should just go but im really scared. i rarely go to even dallas. which is a big city. i dont even goto my hometown much anymore in a years span of time. which is 250k pop.
i stay around the next town over if i ever need anything. which has about 150k population.

im so scared about my safety.
but my dad was like "one day im not going to be here. then what are you gonna do?"
and i was just like "i honestly probably will be going out as much as i am now (2x a week) probably less".

all this ***** i was taught growing up about dont get close to people. watch out for people. etc. i feel like i was taught to be afraid of people idk. and the news just makes it worse.

last spring i visited my grandma in california. i flew by myself for the first time since i was 17. i was deeply deeply deeply scared and had panic attacks and anxiety the whole time i was there. i even threw up. i hid in the airport bathrooms. just...did some weird stuff...but nothing overly weird...i was just scared...