Student Testimonials

This summer, I had the remarkable opportunity to study abroad in Taiwan and Japan with Professor Ai and fellow students. What began as a study abroad trip very quickly became an experience that expanded my understanding of the world and allowed me the opportunity to meet some amazing people and make memories that will last a lifetime. In Taiwan, I was able to immerse myself in the culture, food, history, and the everyday life of the communities I visited. I then continued my journey to Japan where I explored temples and shrines and lastly, I had the chance to experience the dynamic energy of Tokyo.  More than anything, this trip completely transformed how I view the world around me. In essence, it broke the illusion that my current life is the only life I can live and experience. There is an entire world out there, beyond anything I’ve seen before, that I’ve yet to appreciate and experience. It’s filled with different languages, cultures, and cuisines. I returned home with a burning desire to venture out and explore the world for everything that it has to offer. The freedom and happiness I felt during this trip reminded me that there is so much more to life than I have ever known. And I literally cannot wait to discover what else is out there. 

In July 2026, I had the amazing chance to study for four weeks in Lecce, Italy with Libera Università Mediterranea. I had always wanted to go to Italy, so this was incredibly exciting for me, even if it meant leaving friends and family behind.  Before heading to the study abroad program in Lecce, I decided to travel… to Rome, Florence, Sicily, Sorrento, Capri, and Pompeii! I had never heard of Lecce before, but all the Italians I spoke to on my pre-Study Abroad adventure told me how beautiful the area was, especially its beaches.

When I arrived to Lecce, I was greeted by the kindest, most accommodating people,  Emma and Rylee, the program leaders. During the study abroad program, I spent four hours a day, five days a week, learning Italian, which was the main reason I went. Every Saturday, we went on excursions to different parts of Salento, in the Puglia region of Italy. Every place was beautiful. The beaches were mesmerizing. The food was delicious. And the locals were so kind and loved that we were trying to learn their language.

Outside the classroom, we had cooking classes where we made homemade pasta, dance classes where we learned the traditional Salentino dance called Pizzica, walking tours, papier-mâché classes taught by a local maestro, and even Italian theater classes! Our schedules were packed and amazing.

Getting to live in a country I had always dreamed of visiting and experiencing its culture, architecture, people, and food was, well, a dream come true. Experiencing a different way of life was fascinating, especially how everyone takes a break in the afternoon from 1-3! (which, sometimes was very needed!) I would recommend this experience one thousand times over. Thanks to this experience I have another home in Lecce! 

Studying abroad in Lisbon (Fall 2025) was one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career. Before applying, I assumed that studying abroad might be financially out of reach, but receiving the Gilman Scholarship made the opportunity possible. The scholarship helped remove financial barriers and showed me that international experiences are accessible to students from a wide range of backgrounds.
During my time in Lisbon, I explored a new culture, gained independence, met people from around the world, and developed a broader perspective on global issues. The experience challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and helped me grow both personally and academically.
I encourage any student who is interested in studying abroad to seriously consider applying for the Gilman Scholarship. Programs like Gilman make international education attainable, and the memories, skills, and perspectives you gain are well worth it. My experience in Lisbon is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and I am grateful that the Gilman Scholarship helped make it possible.

Watch my video here. 

I was incredibly lucky to stumble upon the Taiwan/Hong Kong study abroad program. The opportunity to immerse myself directly in two vibrant and culturally rich places was an experience I will truly never forget. I never imagined I would have the chance to travel to a country so far away, but being nearly 20 hours across the world gave me some of the greatest travel memories I will ever have.

From trying out my broken Chinese with locals to learning about the immense and layered history of both Taiwan and Hong Kong, every day offered something new and eye-opening. Walking through bustling night markets, exploring historic temples, and seeing firsthand how tradition and modern life blend together was something no classroom alone could teach me. I gained not only a deeper appreciation for East Asian culture but also more confidence in myself whether it was navigating unfamiliar streets, engaging with new people, or simply stepping outside of my comfort zone.

This program opened my eyes to the importance of global perspectives and left me with memories, friendships, and lessons that I will carry with me for a lifetime. Shoutout to Professor Ai and Eric for all the help and memories!

In Summer 2025, I studied abroad in Cyprus through Global Semesters. I spent a 4 weeks taking classes and living at the University of Nicosia. I explored the island with an amazing group of new friends. Every day brought something new, from ancient ruins to the beautiful beach this experience turned into one of the most fun and meaningful chapters of my life. My time in Cyprus was unforgettable. It was equal parts exciting, eye-opening, and fun. I grew as a student, a traveler, and a person and I did it all alongside some of the best people I’ve ever met. Studying abroad wasn’t just a trip; it was an experience that changed the way I see the world.

I found Florence to be such a great place to live in and navigate. Everything from travel to finding something to eat was extremely easy. I was placed with four other girls in the apartment, all of whom were really friendly and just as excited to explore the city. We all clicked on our first day. Despite all of us having opposite class schedules from one another we all made time to spend time with each other. Additionally, I did get a chance to explore Florence after class with a few of my classmates too.

My classes were really interesting and made me appreciate the city. I learned about Bernardo Buontalenti and his contributions to architecture that can still be seen throughout Florence. On one of our class walks, our professor took us to visit one of his kneeling window designs which happened to be down the street from where my apartment. I thought that it was very fascinating to walk around the city and know about its historical background. 

Outside of FUA, my roommates and I traveled to Cinque terre, Venice, and to a Tuscan winery with Smarttrips. On our own we travelled to Rome and Switzerland using the train. We took various classses such as pizza and wine making, perfume making, and chocolate making. I found it so easy to talk to the other tourists as we were all learning from each other through sharing stories. 

Immersing myself in the 'exotic North' was a wonderful Study Abroad experience. Farmingdale State College faculty led us throughout Reykjavik and South Iceland including dramatic landscapes of geysers, volcanoes, hot springs, an underground lava hike and glacier walk to name a few! Studying multiculturalism and ethnography helped us to do our course work and truly observe the Nordic culture. This was my second opportunity to Study Abroad and as I figured, it would be as life-changing as the last one.

I don't think I have ever made a more wise decision than studying abroad in Florence, Italy. I am forever grateful to my mother and advisors for telling me about this incredible program. Not only did I make a lot of friends, but I also made great memories that I'll never forget. This incredible trip gave me a taste of responsibility as well as adventure. I advise anyone to take the opportunity while you're still young to study abroad and have the time of your life!

I spent 5 months studying on the island of Cyprus- a little country in the middle of the Mediterranean that if you asked me to point out on a map a year ago, I'd be clueless. However, my decision to travel abroad was by far the greatest decision I've ever made. Cyprus will forever be my home, and the individuals I met there will be missed tremendously for the rest of my days. My 139 days spent in Cyprus allowed me the opportunity to visit 20 different cities, and a total of 7 countries. I took advantage of any opportunity to try something new and made the craziest, most unforgettable memories. I had the opportunity to meet the most well rounded, amazing individuals who quickly became my family overseas. I could have chosen somewhere common, but then I thought to myself, how many people get the chance to say they lived on a Mediterranean island for an entire semester? With this in mind, I choose a place in which I had little acquaintance with. I probably would have never traveled there if it were not for this program; it was the greatest escapade I have ever been on. Purely by coincidence, the month I arrived was the same month the island was named "European's 2017 Capital of Culture". This country broadened my association with so many people, customs, cultures, and background that I will truly never be the same.

Ever since I was small, my grandfather would tell me about the beauty or Ireland. I was hooked. Along with my passion for art, I was thrilled that I was given the opportunity to experience both! For a month we studied various types of art forms, such as painting, drawing, screen printing and photography. We traveled through the rolling hills, dipped our feet in the cold North Atlantic ocean, and would also make our daily trips into town where we would get to know the locals on a personal basis. We would share stories, laugh, and would be taught about the ancient history of Ireland, as well as some local tales. We even were able to have our artwork be shown in town, which many of the locals happily attended! This experience brought out my thirst for adventure, which will now never cease to be quenched, but will only grow stronger. I feel so fortunate to have been able to experience such a life changing adventure. That is something that I will hold close for the rest my life.

This was an amazing experience! I would do it all over again! This study abroad experience aided me to drift away from almost all of the stereotypes I have heard about Mexico and its' citizens. Mexico is a beautiful country and its' citizens are smart as well as hard working; they have a very strong and interesting history that I think everyone should be enlightened about.

The study abroad experience to Florence, Italy was nothing short of incredible. I don't think that I understood how much of a life changing journey I was going to go on for three weeks when I signed up. Little did I know that I wasn't going to want to leave this amazing new place. Getting the opportunity to be more independent, understand another culture, and attend college at the same time are only the little things I  loved about Italy. Being able to see seven different cities in just 21 days is something I never thought I'd be able to do in my college career. I will continue to travel for the rest of my life, and the study abroad program was my kickstart! Italy will forever be a special place in my heart!

My trip to Ireland was the highlight of the semester! From the day I heard about the study abroad program, I was geared up to sign up for one of the locations. When I came to know that there was a course visiting Ireland over Spring Break and also during St. Patrick’s Day, I was one of the first students to sign up. It was truly a wonderful experience to visit a new place with a group of fun and young college students and the opportunity to learn about the culture and life of yet another country was exhilarating. I will hands-down recommend other students to grab opportunities that the study abroad program has to offer while they are still in college.

Studying abroad at Tel Aviv University in Israel was the best decision I have made during my college years. I had the chance to explore all of Israel from the Golan Heights in the north to the beach resort Eilat in the south. All of my classes were challenging and engaging as well as relevant to the world around us. One of my favorite classes was History of Anti-Semitism; we talked a lot about the Middle Eastern conflict today and its global affects. Because of these conflicts all of my family and friends constantly were asking if I was safe, the answer was always yes. I recommend study abroad for anyone. It is an amazing experience that widens your perspective on the world and widens possible career possibilities!

Going to Peru has been a dream of mine in order to accomplish my goal of expanding my knowledge of the Spanish language. As a Marine Corps veteran I developed a desire to travel the world and I was able to fulfill that with this study abroad experience.  During my semester of language study in Peru, I was able to travel through the entire country with my TKE fraternity brother including a trip to the scared Incan city Machu Picchu. My classwork and cultural immersion together made for a great learning experience and has inspired me to continue to travel the world. Next stop: Thailand.

Someone told me before I went away that a semester studying abroad is the freest one will ever feel. While I don't hope to project into the future, I can certainly say that as of now, this is so true. From getting lost in the streets to flying past bakeries and happy people on our bikes, Copenhagen provides for sheer ecstatic adventure in any given moment. Fellow students lined up Wednesday mornings to feast on delicious and cheap freshly baked cinnamon buns and from there our days began. Whether studying in the majestic Black Diamond Library, sharing a ceramic pot of coffee at the non for profit and student run Studenhauset cafe or giggling like children on the outdoor street trampolines, I think it's safe to say, we all felt pretty alive and free.

Studying abroad in Australia was a life changing adventure. I was able to indulge in different cultures and become a more well rounded person. Bond University is an incredible campus with a wonderful atmosphere and accommodations for all students. Being able to work with students from around the globe was an eye opening opportunity which I value greatly. Don't be afraid to exceed your expectations, you have no limits! Travel as much as possible! My advice is to spend as much time as you can OFF campus and try new things. Get out of your comfort zone and explore the amazing surroundings. "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." - T.S. Elliot