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Vietnam ended up being my favorite port out of all eleven countries we visited on Semester at Sea, and I didn’t expect that going in. The food was unreal. From street food to McDonald’s, every single meal was good. There was never a moment where I felt disappointed by what I was eating. Food became something I looked forward to every day, and it somehow always delivered. At night, the streets felt electric. The lights were so bright it barely felt like nighttime. Everything s

Perspective is what determines whether an experience feels unbearable or transformative. India tested mine immediately. The first thing I noticed was the air. Thick with pollution. Trash everywhere. People walking barefoot through the streets. Street vendors prepared food with their feet inches away. Drinks with things floating in them that I could not identify. Bugs everywhere. Constant honking, somehow louder than LA and New York combined. Driving felt chaotic. Motorcycles

Recently, I had a spoken word project where I had to create a poem on a chosen topic. I chose to write about my struggles being black growing up in a predominantly white community. When I mean struggles, I don't mean physical, financial, or really emotional, as I've been very blessed. My main point is that when I am in either white or black dominated spaces, I constantly feel outcast because of either my blackness or lack thereof. I realized this was something that impacted m

Ghana was one of the most powerful and emotional experiences of this entire journey. For the first time in my life, I was surrounded by people who looked like me everywhere I went. From the billboards and shop signs to the waiters, security guards, and business owners, every face reflected a version of me that I rarely get to see represented back home. It was powerful to walk through spaces where Blackness was not an exception but the norm. I did not have to think about stand

One of the best parts of this journey has been forming real, deep connections with the people around me. Without the constant pull of social media, I have had no choice but to be fully present. Conversations are not interrupted by notifications, and moments are not lived for the sake of posting them. I have learned to listen, to ask questions, and to sit with silence without feeling awkward. What has surprised me most is how close I feel to people I have only known for a shor

Perspective is the way we see and understand the world, shaped by our experiences, challenges, and choices. During my trip to the Sahara...

My Daily View! The first week at sea has been a whirlwind. The rocking of the boat made everything feel unsteady, and seasickness hit...

I’m sitting at the airport, waiting for my flight to Amsterdam—the first step on my Semester at Sea journey. My bag is packed, passport...

As I get closer to boarding Semester at Sea, the reality is starting to sink in—this is more than just a trip. It’s four months of living...

After the exciting milestone of high school graduation, I'm excited to begin the next stage of my life journey. Stay tuned here for...