The End of The Voyage Was Just The Beginning
For Emily Ayres, a Spring 2014 Semester at Sea alum, SAS didn’t end when the ship reached its final port. In so many ways, the end of Emily’s voyage was, in fact, “just the beginning.”
“It’s a common misconception that when the voyage is over, that’s it,” Emily said. “But the end of the voyage is when the magic happens, because you are now a totally new, amazing version of yourself. That’s when you get to take all those lessons and memories and life-changing moments that made you – now you go and give it back to the world.”
Emily’s Debut Children’s Book
Emily has given back to the world in many ways since her 2014 voyage, but she’s now taking an even bigger step – one reconnecting her to the program she holds so close to her heart. Through her debut children’s book, Semester at Sea & The Wonder of We, Emily has now published work inspired by the voyage that shaped her own worldviews. A children’s story told alongside vibrant illustrations, the book follows young travelers Marina and Porter as they circle the globe on a floating classroom. Along the way, the two discover new cultures, friendships, and the deeper meaning of Ubuntu: “I am, because we are.”
For Emily, the creation of the book began with a core question: how could she share the magic of Semester at Sea with the children, families, and future voyagers who have not yet stepped onto the ship? Emily, a new mother of a two-year-old named June, also had a spark of inspiration to write the book when thinking about how she could share the beauty and expansiveness of the world – as told through the Semester at Sea program – with her own daughter. While on maternity leave, Emily found herself reading children’s books constantly and began thinking seriously about writing one of her own. She had previously written poems, children’s stories, and personalized books for friends who had babies.
Semester at Sea & The Wonder of We is meant to ignite and spark that curiosity in kids and little travelers about the world,” Emily said.
That belief is centered in Emily’s own experiences – those that began years ago when she was first learning about the world herself. She grew up in a “tiny town” outside of Buffalo, New York, where her early understanding of the wider world first came from movies, magazines, and a deep desire to see more for herself. As a child, she participated in a few People to People Student Ambassador Program travel experiences, but when she began exploring study abroad options as a college student at Miami University in Ohio, Semester at Sea stood out.
I heard about Semester at Sea, and I was like: hang on a second. You get to live on a ship and go around the world? And not just learn about these places, but live them? I was so in,” Emily said.
Emily’s Voyage
She sailed during her senior year as a double major in communications and business management, and she graduated on the ship. The timing of her voyage, she said, made the experience even more impactful.
“When you’re on Semester at Sea, and you’re about to graduate college and enter the real world, you really are just meeting yourself for truly the first time,” she said. “I don’t think I would be who I am had I not done Semester at Sea at that point in my life.”
That voyage taught her to step outside of her comfort zone, to slow down, to build connection, and to remain open to people and places that might feel unfamiliar at first. She remembers stepping off the ship in foreign countries, often without knowing the language or exactly what to expect, and learning to trust that the experience would unfold.
Those ideas are now at the heart of her new book, Semester at Sea & The Wonder of We. Emily describes the book as both a family story and an alumni story – a way for past voyagers to share the experience with children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other young learners.
“SAS was the most transformational experience of my life,” Emily said. “When I thought of sharing this story with young learners, I just wanted to share this magic with them. But also, it’s a love letter from me to this experience that I had, because it truly changed my life.”
Working With Semester at Sea
With this in mind, Emily began writing Semester at Sea & The Wonder of We last year. Because the book centers on Semester at Sea, Emily first approached ISE with the concept of creating a SAS-endorsed children’s book – one she would create and publish on her own, but that would receive the support of the program. Jason Hughes, ISE’s Vice President for Marketing and Enrollment, shared, “I love to hear from Semester at Sea alums who are writing about their experiences and how the program shaped their lives and work. Many of these books, including photo books, are on display in our office. Emily called with the plan to do something I’d not seen: a children’s book that aimed to extend our mission of introducing students to the world.”
After reviewing Emily’s early drafts, Jason was impressed. “The quality of the writing and illustrations, this mission-extending purpose, the unique audience, and Emily’s obvious love for the program convinced me we should be more than a fan, but an enthusiastic supporter of the project. We’re also really glad she was committed to using a portion of her profit to benefit SAS.” At this time, 5 percent of the book’s sales will be contributed to the Semester at Sea Annual Fund.
In addition to ISE’s own reviews, Emily shared her early versions of the book with many of her SAS alumni friends. That alumni community remains central to Emily’s life – many of her closest friends today are people she met on Semester at Sea; several were part of her wedding party, and her daughter’s “aunts and uncles” include friends from the voyage.
These are not just shipmates,” Emily said. “These are your family.”
The Book Launch
The official book launch for Semester at Sea & The Wonder of We also reflects that continued SAS alumni connection. Emily plans to celebrate at an official launch party in San Diego on Saturday, June 27, 2026. The gathering will take place in the backyard of two close friends who met, fell in love, and later married after meeting on Semester at Sea. Several of Emily’s SAS friends are expected to fly in with their children, and the event will include kid-friendly details such as mini passports and stickers from around the world. SAS alumni in the San Diego area interested in the launch party have been invited to reach out to Emily for more information, using her contact page here.
Connect With Emily
The book is now available through Emily’s website and Amazon, and you can follow the book’s social media on TikTok: @wonderofwe and Instagram: @wonderofwe.
Today, Emily lives in San Diego and works full-time as a Sales Manager at Gartner. She said the lessons of Semester at Sea continue to shape her career, relationships, and sense of purpose. Her dream, in addition to sharing her new book with the SAS community and a new generation of travelers, is to one day return to the ship with her daughter, June.
For more information about “Semester at Sea & The Wonder of We,” to order a copy, or to learn more about the San Diego launch event, visit EmilyAyresWrites.com.
