Pour some reflection on me

ALL ABOUT ME + MY ASPIRATIONS

Hey y'all! I thought I would share a little bit about myself and my aspirations. Perhaps, this will put a person behind the stories and pictures I've shared thus far. My name is Alexandria J. White; I have two middle names, so I just use a "J." I'm a 19 (and a half) year old college student. I live in Houston, Texas, and attend the Prairie View A&M University. I'm a social work major with an English minor, and I aspire to work internationally. I am the first person in my immediate family to have traveled outside of the United States, and the first country I visited was Italy. I received the opportunity of a lifetime to study abroad in Rome for four weeks because of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, and it changed my entire life.

I met incredible people and experienced things most people only dream of. Going abroad gave me a broader international perspective and inflated my desires to travel the world. I came back from my journey, convinced that I must join the Peace Corps or become a Foreign Service Officer. I've always had plans to work for the government in some capacity. However, I envisioned it would be with the United Nations, the FBI/CIA, an embassy, or the Department of State. I have also contemplated starting a business or non-profit organization to help children and families in need, as well as a scholarship fund of some kind. As you can see, I am very ambitious. Ultimately, I want to use my skills and experiences to help people. All people. I think a lot about what's next for me. I am entering my Junior year of college a year early, and I don't want to waste any time. I toyed with the idea of going to grad school and picking a specialty, but in all honesty, I would rather do than learn about doing. I just want to go out and start changing lives and making the world a better place NOW (that's the Aquarius in me).

ALL ABOUT THE GILMAN + THE IMPACT ON MY LIFE

I graduated high school (Magna Cum Laude) in the summer of 2018 and embarked on my "freshman" year in the fall of 2018. As soon as I unpacked my dorm, I looked into all the fairs going on around campus. I had class when the study abroad fair was happening, so I asked one of my friends at the time to go for me and pick up some pamphlets. I have always had wanderlust, and she came back with a lot of information of companies to go abroad with and scholarship information to fund said trips. I knew then that this was my chance to go. I came into college with 30 credits, but I still had ample unrestricted elective credits, so I had to go for it. I applied to study abroad in Rome with CIEE in September, and after talking to the study abroad office at my university, I applied for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship in October. If it weren't for that friend, the amazing and knowledgeable study abroad staff, and my ambition, I would never have achieved something from my wildest dreams. Being a recipient (now alum) of the Gilman has changed my life in innumerable ways. I have renewed confidence in my aspirations, and in myself, I experienced genuine happiness, and I made lifelong friends. Before I received the Gilman and studied abroad, I never really had a true grasp on what I wanted out of my life.

Experiencing the cultures of Italy, Switzerland, and France has given me worldly knowledge that I couldn't have gotten anywhere else. As far as confidence goes, before these experiences, I couldn't even go inside of gas stations alone. Now, after roaming the streets of these European countries, riding public transportation for the first time, trying new foods and a new way of life; I have discovered a lot about myself, and I was able to push myself beyond my comfort zone. Testing my boundaries has rocked my world in the most amazing ways. I have been terrified of public speaking for as long as I can remember. I was shocked when I was surrounded by people who I felt I could be myself around. They enabled me to feel secure, and I belted out the lyrics to "Bohemian Rhapsody" at the top of my lungs on Karaoke Night. Singing with those girls, was the highlight of my entire life honestly. I knew then that my life could never go back to the way it was. After spending four weeks with the most incredible people, whom I hadn't even spoken with until the start of the program, I learned more about genuine connections and friendship than I have in my whole life. Meeting those people, reminded me that I am a pretty awesome person, quirks and weirdness and all.

HOW I GOT THE GILMAN

Honestly, it took a village to apply for the illustrious Gilman Scholarship. I spent hours emailing with my study abroad advisor Mr. King, as well as sitting in his office and the writing center. I worked very hard on my application and did my best to highlight the impact the Gilman would have on my life. I also had a carefully constructed plan to highlight the Gilman and what it stands for while bringing diversity to study abroad. I was told that the scholarship accepts students who are pell-eligible, write well, and have plans to tell the world about the Gilman through a follow-on service project. I poured my heart and soul into my application, and I am blessed to say that I was a recipient.

HOW TO FUND YOUR STUDY ABROAD

There are a lot of options available for financial assistance. What I hope to do is motivate you all to look for them. Studying abroad doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg, and it is possible for you to go regardless of your socioeconomic status. I was able to make this dream a reality by talking to the International Affairs office on my campus and sitting down with a study abroad advisor. Finding someone to guide you through this journey is crucial. Mr. King sat down with me and answered all of my questions, directed me to university scholarships, helped me with my essays, and talked me through my Gilman application. He also followed up with me throughout the process. The company that I went abroad with, CIEE, also sent reminders and a checklist about which sections of their applications needed to be completed and dates for everything. My whole experience was filled with people that were eager to help and steer me in the right direction. CIEE also had their own scholarships and grants that I applied for, and some were specifically for students who are pell-eligible and/or have applied for the Gilman. Yes, there was a grant that I received just for my application for the Gilman! I didn't even know that I was a recipient yet, and it was still providing me with opportunities. If studying abroad is something that you're set on doing, I would suggest taking the leap and exhausting every resource.

CLOSING REMARKS

I am eternally grateful for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship and the person/people responsible for changing my life by giving me this opportunity. I can't express enough how thankful I am for the experiences I was able to have and for the lives that I'll get to impact. Being a recipient, now alum, of the Gilman is an honor, and I hope to make them proud.

Ciao, Ciao for now.