Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

“It’s important for more Black students to study abroad so that global citizens can see that we aren’t America’s second class citizens. We’re talented, intelligent, and loving people and we do everything in our own style. Our presence alone helps diminish stereotypes. Additionally, I believe it’s important for us to go abroad so that other global citizens learn about us and increase their awareness around the complexities of our lived experiences and about the African diaspora.”

“Studying abroad was important for me because I knew how expansive and diverse the world was. Even when I was younger, I dreamt of traveling to distant lands. The advice I would give Black students who are thinking about studying abroad would be to do it! Our faces, smiles, and overall presence need to be seen in other countries.”

“Advice that I would give to Black students seeking to study abroad is to not feel afraid in embracing your African heritage. The American experience encompasses a multitude of global cultures, within a single country. You can use studying abroad to further connect with your heritage and exchange ideas to further the development of both Black communities in the U.S. and Black communities across the globe. It is very American of you to embrace your inherently rich cultural identity and to use it to benefit the world.”

“My identity definitely impacted my study abroad experience in South Korea. I stood out no matter where I went, which was sometimes uncomfortable – but it wasn’t always a negative thing. Because of who I was, I was able to have interesting conversations with people about where I’m from, introduce people to my hometown of Des Moines, Iowa and show how Americans come from everywhere and look and speak differently.”

“My experience has been interesting because as much as I have struggled, I don’t necessarily feel wrong being here, but I think I am figuring out how to validate my identity while abroad without the support of a community and it’s difficult. Part of this is since when I introduce myself as Native American most people don’t know what that is or what it means and the idea of being indigenous doesn’t mean anything in the conversations I have had here. This paired with my altering my practices and traditions makes my time here more difficult than a non-Indigenous person, but I think that everything I am learning now is so valuable to who I am as a person that I am okay with being uncomfortable if it means that I am growing.”

“My study abroad experience was through a faculty-led program on peace negotiations in Northern Ireland. As an indigenous person, I came in with the history of knowing how peace negotiations have played out in America with my people among other tribes in the past. This affected the way I view peace negotiations in general and made me more curious about how the topic affected real people who live in Belfast rather than just what the government claims it is doing. It changed the way I related to my identity in that I learned about the colonization that took place in Ireland and made me feel as though my people’s history is not the only one that has been disregarded and written out of history as many people do not learn this about Irish history.”

“My interning abroad experience affected my identity by introducing me to another Hispanic culture. Also, my study abroad experience increased my desire to learn more about other Latin American countries and immerse myself in their cultures. Overall, my interning abroad experience opened the door to pursuing more opportunities abroad.”

“Through the Gilman Scholarship, I was able to experience the world beyond my textbooks and create connections that will last me a lifetime. Not only did it change my life, but it helped me become a Global Citizen.”

“The Gilman Program empowers young people from diverse backgrounds and helps them take an important step towards a lifetime of learning, curiosity, and connection beyond borders. Coming from a rural farming family, the rare and special opportunity to study abroad has fundamentally shaped who I am today, and who I strive to be. I am proud to be a Gilman alumna, and celebrate its success over the past 20 years in supporting the dreams of young Americans.”

“Some lessons can’t be taught in classrooms or textbooks, and their relevance impossible to measure on a test. Studying abroad provided depth and context to my education that I could not have learned any other way. The Gilman Scholarship is an amazing resource that I hope every student learns about and takes advantage of.”

“The Gilman Scholarship Program shaped my desire to help create stories that spark curiosity, celebrate diverse cultures, and observe our shared humanity.”

“The Gilman Program opens doors to opportunities you could never imagine. I never expected my semester in Japan would lead me to compete in judo at the Tokyo Olympics. Studying abroad is a challenge. You may be immersed in a totally different culture, as I was, but you will make new friends, try new things, acquire new tastes and discover that underneath it all, we are all the same, members of one very large family. You will be joining a network helping to create a world of global citizens that is founded on friendship and diversity.”

“Through my education in France, I was able to learn about countless LGBTQ+ individuals throughout history and their impact on the world. The accepting and open culture of Europe also helped to show me that it’s okay to be me. I think that my study abroad experience helped me to fully embrace my LGBTQ+ identity and opened the doors for me to live authentically.”

“As a first-gen, low-income student who is a queer multicultura Latina, it was important for me to study abroad in order to explore the complexities of my unique identities. Before studying abroad, I didn’t proudly embrace anything about who I was – especially my queerness. It was this opportunity that allowed me to truly know myself and confidently express pride in all of my complexities.”