Sophie at Sea (Semester at Sea)

My name is Sophia and I am currently a student at the University of Oregon. I'm pursuing majors in International Studies and Romance Language as well as  Political Science. My mother was an art teacher who showed me the value of adventure and education. She would've shown me around the world herself if she could. I got part-way there when she flew a 15 year old to Spain for a Global Entrepreneurship conference. There I learned I could do good things to help others in other parts of the world. I've always preferred experience opposed to textbooks and roads lined by evergreens instead of classrooms but that trip sparked the drive in me to become a global citizen that got me where I am today. As an international studies major, one of my requirements is to study abroad and in order to fulfill this requirement my greatest desire is to do a Semester at Sea. Next fall I hope to be on an Atlantic exploration, visiting 11 cities in 10 countries in only 100 days. While aboard the vessel I would be taking four classes like I would if I were to be on campus. In this case the world would be my campus. Each course integrates comparative experiential study, interdisciplinary coursework, and relevant field labs in multiple countries. Every donations, no matter how small, helps to make me one step closer to setting sail on this educational journey. This program would expose me to societies that most students have only read about in books. Exposure to new cultures and people of the world will give new perspectives from real life experiences. That is why I wish to travel. That is what I would do with the ability to go on a semester at sea.

http://www.semesteratsea.org/