St. John’s University student Camryn Sutton, who recently won a scholarship from Joy Worldwide Inc., shares her experiences studying abroad in the blog featured below. Joy Worldwide Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides education, advocacy, and scholarship programs for African American students pursuing study abroad opportunities.
October 21, 2024
The Journey
By Camryn Sutton
What I know for sure is you don’t know what you don’t know. Exposure and a willingness to do something different have paved the way for me to experience the opportunity of a lifetime.
My journey began with attending St. John’s University. As a Richmond, Virginia, resident, I knew I wanted to attend college in New York. My first year, I was encouraged to take a Global Passport course, but I did not want to. Leading up to the deadline, my mother kept asking me about it, and finally I hesitantly enrolled in a public speaking course that would take me to Rome, Italy, in Spring 2023.
Rome, Italy
There, I was thrust into the culture as one of only a few Black students. I noticed the stares of the Italians as I walked on the streets; I would eventually realize that it is a part of their culture. It was invigorating to immerse myself in the culture and learn from the Italians. Following this experience, I knew I had to return. Hence, in 2024, I attended a summer session in Paris, France, to study French.
Cannes, France
In the Fall of 2024, I was also hoping to attend St. John’s Semester in Rome program when I learned of the Joy Worldwide Inc. scholarship from the Office of International Education. After the interview, I was on the edge of my seat waiting to hear. When the news came that I had won, my plan to study abroad became so much easier. The packing was difficult, but three suitcases later, I realized I did not need anything more and I am currently enjoying the fall semester in Rome.
This experience has been a leap into the unknown. Everyone’s journey is different, and for me it took a little time to adjust. When I first arrived in Rome, it was a tremendous culture shock because I didn’t speak the language. I was anxious: anxious to be back again, anxious about budgeting, and anxious about being away from my family for so long. I feel like a lot of people tend to let that hold them back, but it should be something that pushes you to move forward. Once I did, it has been the all-time best experience for me—and still is!
The scholarship requires that I document my journey, and that has encouraged me to explore the city more, become immersed in different cultures, and travel on the weekends. I have three more months to go, and I don’t want it to end.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
There are extreme differences between studying in America and abroad. I am now keenly aware that I am considered the immigrant in this country. I hope to have the opportunity to study abroad during my college experience as much as I can. My goal while here is to immerse myself in many different cultures while balancing my responsibilities and excelling academically.
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”—Neale Donald Walsch