Wednesday, Sept. 3, the Reves Center for International Studies hosted its inaugural Study Abroad Exposition, welcoming back recently returned College of William and Mary students to chat with others about their experience and ask any questions regarding the transfer credit process. The event was organized by Nasha Lewis, associate director of Global Education & In-Bound Programs.
“This expo is for students who have recently gone abroad (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer, Academic Year, you all should come!) to connect with each other, GEO staff, get any applicable transfer credit questions answered,” the Global Education Office wrote.
Attendees travelled all over for a variety of programs, each spanning different lengths. Some spent this past summer abroad, while others were away for a semester, or even the entire previous academic year.
Connor Gold ’26, a returnee and a GEO employee, welcomed students at the front desk and shared his takeaways from participating in two international programs during his time at the College.
“I think it definitely gave me the best kind of baby steps to sort of understand other cultures and learn new things and learn new people,” Gold said.
The Reves Center hosted the event across the building’s two floors. Upstairs, GEO staff offered academic and professional support. Senior Associate Director and Deputy Director of Global Education Molly DeStafney, along with Assistant Director of Global Education Lisa Roney, assisted students with questions about the personal reflection essay and the transfer credit process.
Other staff members taught students how to highlight international experiences on LinkedIn and discuss them effectively in job interviews.
Downstairs, students had lunch while mingling among other returnees. The front desk also offered resources for those interested in studying abroad again during the time they have left at the College.
According to Roney, part of the exposition’s purpose was to support students who may be having trouble adjusting to being back home. Studying abroad, for any length of time, fully immerses students in a different culture, and the “reverse culture shock” that can follow is often overlooked.
“When students return, there is talk about culture shock going overseas, but it’s less talked about, the return shock of coming back from being immersed in that culture,” Roney said. “So when students return, and they are kinda in that just kind of feeling empty and not really knowing how to assimilate back into their normal life.”
Roney emphasized that students could greatly benefit from connecting with peers who have shared similar experiences and find support in their company.
“This is a good way that, we hope, students can see each other and kind of have someone else to understand and empathize with and say, ‘I feel the same way, I’m in the same boat,’” Roney said.
Generally, studying abroad introduces students to an incredibly wide range of different perspectives and experiences. Hollis Martin ’26, who spent a semester in Rome last fall, described the invaluable impact of his time outside of the United States.
“My favorite part was meeting students from all over the country that went to different schools and getting a perspective on education in the United States,” Martin said.
For Andrew McKee ’28, an economics major with a business minor, the University College Dublin offered firsthand exposure in his field, something he felt would be difficult to replicate in a traditional classroom environment.
“There’s a lot of actual hands-on learning where you get to interact with these entities rather than just learn about them,” McKee said. “I think that’s fairly invaluable, and you get to also talk to not just these businesses but people in Ireland.”
He added that the program exceeded his expectations.
“Ultimately, what I got out of it was far more than I really went into it thinking about,” McKee said.
While studying abroad can offer students a new worldview, traveling to and living in a foreign country is not without its challenges. Political instability, global pandemics or other unforeseen circumstances can disrupt program itineraries at a moment’s notice.
Abby Kumar ’27, who studied in South Africa this summer, explained how visa complications affected the academic portion of her trip.
“We were taking two classes, but it was definitely less academic-focused,” Kumar said. “I think one of the reasons was because my professor wasn’t able to actually come, because of visa issues.”
Nevertheless, exposure to other cultures, in any capacity, broadens one’s worldview in sometimes life-altering ways. In his time abroad, Gold found his passion for international relations, which he hopes to pursue after graduating this May.
“I want to try to go towards working for a company with global offices and maybe work in an office, maybe in Europe or a nation in some sense,” Gold said. “And kind of facilitate global deals across nations and across companies.” The GEO will hold its annual study abroad fair in Unity Hall, Saturday, Oct. 4, for those interested in going abroad.
