Timmy's Study Abroad Adventure

Hi there! My name is Tim and I am currently a student at Ocean County College. On January 5, 2016 I plan on setting sail on Semester at Sea’s Spring 2016 Voyage. In recent years I have devoted my time volunteering to rebuild the community after it was devastated by Superstorm Sandy in 2012, as well continued to work for a local seafood market and pursue my degree. With my hometown on track to revive and a solid foundation to my educational career, I am ready to continue my education and personal development by traveling the world.

 

As the tenth child in a line of eleven children, I have been fortunate to learn from several different role models. Including my oldest sister, an alumni of the Spring 2003 Voyage. Semester at Sea was a life-changing experience that kick started her global perspective and career. International relations and the issues across the globe today are ones that I have grown to be very interested in, where I witness my passion shine through, and am inclined to learn more from firsthand experience.

           

The voyage is set to embark from San Diego, California on the 5th of January, 2016. As I prepare personally and academically, I will also continue to work day in and day out as one of the managers of a high end retail seafood market in order to make this trip attainable from a financial standpoint. The trip will offer me the opportunity to visit all of the following places, learning in both the developed and developing world:

 

·      Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

·      Yokohama, Japan

·      Kobe, Japan

·      Shanghai, China

·      Hong Kong, China

·      Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

·      Rangoon, Burma

·      Cochin, India

·      Port Louis, Mauritius

·      Cape Town, South Africa

·      Takoradi, Ghana

·      Tema (Accra), Ghana

·      Casablanca, Morocco

·      Debark: Southampton (London), England

 

Semester at Sea is the voyage of a lifetime, one that I have dreamed of travelling on since my sister, an alumni of the Spring 2003 voyage, returned home. There is a large financial barrier between now and January 5th, one that I will be working avidly to overcome and set sail. So today, I am kindly asking for small donations in order to make this trip a reality. I hope you can see the donation as an investment in my future, a future where I will take my unique life experiences, education and untapped potential to one day give back and make the world a better place. I look forward for the opportunity to embark on a journey aboard the MV World Odyssey.

 

Below is a breakdown of my foreseen expenses. While the ultimate goal is more than I can dream of funding through GoFundMe, I wanted to include it to illustrate the full cost of the voyage, a cost I see as well worth it. Even if I am unable to reach the ultimate goal, I will be forever grateful and appreciative of any help that is provided to me. 

 

Please understand that I have done all that I could thus far to first fund my trip through scholarships and financial aid, which has already reduced the total cost for me. The GoFundMe you see here is one last chance to lessen the student loan debt that will be required to fund the balance of the trip.

 

Breakdown of Costs:

Tuition, Room & Board: $24,600

Airfare and Visas: $1130

Personal Travel: $4000

Textbooks: $600



TOTAL: $30,330