Semester at Sea Experience

Hi, my name is Ashley Gros. I am currently a senior at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. I will be graduating in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience. My hope is to continue schooling to receive a doctorate in Occupational Therapy after graduation. I have the privilege of attending the Semester at Sea voyage for the Fall 2022 semester. This unique opportunity will allow me to continue my studies aboard the MV World Odyssey where students will travel across three different continents through many countries such as Amsterdam, Portugal, Morocco, Spain, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus, Jordan, Kenya, India, and Dubai.

I have the honor of having a grandfather who has truly traveled the world. Through sabbaticals, he taught in Asia, Europe, and Australia. I had always wondered how he developed such an intelligent, open mind, but it is clear now that his many trips abroad shaped his view of the world into one of compassion and inclusion. While considering this opportunity, I spoke with him to understand how he grew from his different cultural experiences. He identified tolerance of others and appreciation of their perspectives as his most notable personal attainments. This is precisely what I want to develop in myself.

This once-in-a-lifetime experience costs around $40,000. I have been working hard to make this opportunity a reality, and I have fortunately received around $30,000 through scholarships. Any funds donated would help to cover my expenses such as tuition, visas, personal programs, and in-port expenses. Additionally, please follow my Instagram (@so.ashel) where I will be posting my adventures throughout the countries, so that you can experience this opportunity along side of me when I set sail on September 9!

Thank you so much for considering donating through this Go Fund Me, or you can Venmo me @ashel721. Any support would be deeply appreciated.