Colin Burke | Staff Writer | cburke@mail.smcvt.edu
The 24th Annual Global Eyes Ceremony, a long-standing tradition at St. Michael’s College, will take place on April 10 in the Dailey Room at Durick Library from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The tradition is a celebration of the returning students who have studied abroad and share their experiences with the community to reflect on their cultural journeys. All students and faculty are invited to attend, as there will be food and beverages.
This night you can expect to see a wide range of photographs from the returnees’ experiences, offering a new and unique perspective of the world. The highlight of the evening will be an award show that honors the best photographs taken by the students during the trip. After the ceremony, the judges will announce the first, second, and third-place winners, as well as honorable mentions. Several of these awards come with cash prizes.
Jon Hyde, professor and chair of digital media and communications here on campus, recalls the initial vision for the ceremony as a way to celebrate the cool experiences students were having studying abroad. It was also meant to offer students an opportunity to express their experiences more artistically and seriously, presenting a student’s cultural journey and perspectives to the community through both photographs and written captions.
“This really is a celebration of outward-looking international experience,” Hyde said. “There are some things you can’t teach in a classroom compared to studying abroad 1,000 to 10,000 miles from home.” Hyde emphasized that studying abroad teaches students invaluable life skills. For instance, navigating different faces, cultures, peoples, foods, and languages. Traveling, he said, encourages students to be resilient and manage challenges in unfamiliar environments.
While some students are hesitant to study abroad, Hyde said that this is normal, “Everyone is nervous. I’ve traveled to over 60 different countries, and I still get nervous.” In essence, he said, it’s a leap of faith and something all people should experience.
Peggy Imai, director of the Study Abroad Program, has seen firsthand the impact studying abroad has on students. She emphasizes the importance of engaging with the world beyond our own culture. “It is important to understand there is a world of people out there… if we don’t learn early on, we will have even more difficulties moving forward,” she explained.
For some students, financial and or personal constraints may limit the time students spend abroad. However, Imai encourages all students to seize the opportunity, “If you give yourself any amount of time to experience the world, that’s better than not trying.”
Connor Mongeon, a junior here at St. Michael’s, is currently studying abroad in Stockholm, Sweden, stating that his experience has been “life-changing.” He explained that the journey is eye opening, and highly recommends people give it a whirl. When asked about the Global Eyes ceremony, he answered very excitedly, stating that he has taken several breathtaking pictures that he can’t wait to share with others.
One of the major concerns for students when considering studying abroad is the financial obligations. However, there are a variety of different programs and financial aid options to help students with these challenges. There are over 100 pre-approved programs for students interested and a variety of cost-effective ways to go about it. For instance, the Freeman Foundation offers fully funded summer internship programs in countries like Seoul, South Korea and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
For those hesitant to apply, Imai said the application process is straightforward. “Don’t be intimidated by the amount of words on the application. They are there to help and clarify any questions,” she said. While the process may seem tedious, she explains that it is well worth your time.
Jared Duquette ’24, an alumni here at St. Michael’s, attended the ceremony last year in support of one of his close friends who studied abroad. One aspect of the ceremony that he highlighted from the event was the fun and interesting pictures people shared.
In other words, Duquette had a great time at the event and remembers the Global Eyes Ceremony to be very welcoming. It was open to all and very inclusive to people of the community. In the interview, he stated that he wishes he studied abroad too. However, due to athletics and lack of knowledge about studying abroad, he did not. The Global Eyes Ceremony made him think twice about going abroad, as he claims the people at the event were excited to share their experiences.