Diversity Peer Mentor Program

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Sit with a new table for meals in the first leg. Life is too short to not be adventurous outside your comfort zone.

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Hi I’m Alyssa! I’m an international student from the University of Calgary in Canada. I sailed on sp26 and it was genuinely the best decision I have ever made. While on board, I was one of the co-leads for the international student club. Excited to chat!

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I’m Serah, and my SAS journey gave me valuable insight into the realities of visa and travel preparations that shape students’ experiences long before embarkation. I hope to be a resource for future voyagers by helping make the process more manageable.

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I am a Graphic Design student from Türkiye who joined Semester at Sea coming from a traditional environment where paths often felt predetermined. This experience transformed how I understand culture, identity, and my own direction.

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Coming on Semester at Sea is both one of the scariest and best decisions I have ever made. Sailing on voyage 136, experiencing new cultures and ideas, has made me more confident in my own identity and place in the world. Your voice matters!

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As a full ride scholarship recipient I was able to make my dream of Semester at Sea possible. I am incredibly grateful to be given the opportunity to travel the world with new lifelong friends. SAS gave me so many unforgettable memories and connections.

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Hi! I am Catherine from China, and now I study at Bard College in New York. I am a junior psychology major with a minor in data analytics. I loved dancing on the rocking ship and traveling with my friends in South Africa the most. I would do SAS again!

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Hi, I’m Sofia, a design major from Colombia. Semester at Sea transformed my life, helped me built lifelong friendships, and widened my worldview!

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As a fullride scholarship recipient, I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to explore the world while continuing my education. SAS opened my eyes to new cultures, perspectives, and lifelong friendships. Every student should see the world this way.

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Canadian international student passionate about equity, policy, and global justice. SAS helped me grow, learn, and find belonging while navigating identity, advocacy, and cross-cultural connection across continents.

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I’m a 20-year-old Black, Native, and bisexual woman from the rural South. Semester at Sea helped me find belonging, joy, and pride in my identity. If you’re from an underrepresented background, know this: you belong here too.

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While I was on SAS, I promised myself that I’d say “yes” to as many new things as possible. The strategy was DEFINITELY a lot of work, but by the end I’d met as many people in one semester on the MV World Odyssey as I had in 2 prior years at college!!!

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Hi everyone! My name is Nuru Kibare, and I am from Atlanta, Georgia. I sailed in the fall of 2024 as a sophomore on Voyage 134 and received multiple scholarships that made this voyage possible for me. While on board, I was a student assistant for the communications team, capturing unforgettable moments while embracing the world as my classroom! I was also very involved on our floating campus: a student fellow for the minority student union, participating in “black global studies,” an identity-based post-port reflection group after each country; I also had the privilege to serve as the social creative lead/videographer for the Red Sea (aka the best sea), and was a Sea Olympics facilitator, bible study club and portfolio club member! I’m excited to support and connect with prospective voyagers of diverse backgrounds/needs. From scholarship resources to community-building tips, I hope I can help you make the most of your voyage! I can’t wait to meet you all and share the resources that made this incredible journey of a lifetime a reality for me 🙂

Let’s Talk About:
Community on SAS
Food Restrictions on SAS
Being a STEM major on SAS
Non-affiliated/partnered school application process for SAS

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I sailed in the Fall of 2022 as a Tutu Ubuntu Scholar while completing my BA (Hons) in Global Challenges. From climbing dunes in Wadi Rum, to navigating Mumbai and much more, SAS broadened my worldview and I love helping new SASers navigate their voyages!

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Coming from a low-income, family, Semester at Sea seemed impossible. Yet through two years of determination, I made it happen. Visiting 11 ports led to profound growth, self-discovery, and lifelong friendships. It has been the best decision I ever made.

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During my time on SAS 133, I embraced the opportunity to inspire other Latino students onboard by starting the Hispanic Community Club. As a low-income, Latino UCLA transfer student, my goal is to create a space that values diversity in global education.

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Hi, My name is Matti! I am an international student from Canada. While on board, I worked as a Student Assistant for Student Life and was awarded several scholarships. While on board, I also received academic accommodations for my Learning Disability.

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My name is Kendelle and I was a voyager on 133 in spring of 2024! I had the most amazing time on Semester at Sea and have tons of tips about ship life, traveling in country and solo traveling after to help everyone have the same great experience I did!

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Hi, I’m Silvia, an economics major from Chile. Semester at Sea was life-changing, helping me connect with new cultures and embrace my identity. As someone from a developing country, I found a supportive community on board in an empowering journey!

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Marley sailed on the spring 2024 voyage with Semester at Sea and is currently a Senior at North Carolin A&T, an HBCU in North Carolina. She was the proud recipient of the HBCU scholarship for her voyage and looks forward to helping future SAS students!

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I am a Sociology student in San Francisco, California. During my voyage, I had the privilege of sailing as a Chapman Scholar and co-leading the Jewish club (Jew Cruise). I loved participating in “gay global studies” a special identity-based post-port reflection for members of minority groups on board. I am someone who has been given the privilege of two passports, however, this did bring unexpected challenges. Some of my most cherished memories from SAS include the late-night games and early-morning field programs.

Ask me about:
Judaism on SAS
Queerness on SAS
Having two passports on SAS
Academic accommodations on SAS
Food allergies on SAS

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I’m Jennifer from Washington State! I sailed during the Fall 2023 voyage. SAS felt like a far-reaching dream, but I pushed past the odds and pursued it. It transformed my life, built lifelong friendships, and widened my worldview!

I’m Maggie from Myrtle Beach, SC. I sailed after high-school as a gap year student on the Spring 2019 Voyage. On SAS I was given exposure to so many different ways people make an impact in life. Witnessing a social enterprise in Ghana had a massive impact on my major and career plans! When I sailed I was learning how to live with an autoimmune illness and the food restrictions that came with it. On board I loved attending Global Studies (i.e. learning about the next port!), being a part of Christians at Sea, and soaking up all the wisdom of the SAS community.

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Hi, I am Alisha! I sailed as an international student on SP14. I’m very passionate about spreading awareness of the SAS program abroad/outside of the US. Some of my favorite memories – the excitement of seeing the shore of a new country you’re about to explore, making many new friends, having an extended shipboard family, being rocked to sleep at night and, of course, Neptune day (ever kissed a fish?)! Semester at Sea has been an incredible experience that fueled many of my passions that I have to this day – including a severe case of wanderlust (66 countries and counting). Whenever I tell people that I lived and studied on a ship, they can barely believe that such an awesome experience exists and regret not having known about it back then – so don’t miss out on this amazing experience!

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During my time on board, I served as the head of the international student union and helped create a safe space for this minority (80 out of 800) on board. Apart from being a safe place to vent and process, we held film screenings and panel discussions that were open to all as a way to further our multicultural understanding. I believe that every individual is an amalgamation of their own unique experiences and intersectional identities. SAS was an experience that demonstrated this at every turn. It has become an experience that is central to my identity. To me SAS was an experience that keeps on giving – it gave me friends for life, experiences I will always cherish, a broader outlook, a more open attitude, and so much more.