For Janna Weir, Semester at Sea was “one of the most transformative experiences of [her] life.” Her Spring 1985 Voyage not only expanded her global and cultural horizons, but it also helped lay the groundwork for a life that has been marked by curiosity, empathy, and the courage to build a thriving international business.
She sailed while she was a sophomore at Pepperdine University; at the time, originally from North Carolina, she had “really never been out of the country at all.” Semester at Sea then opened the world to her in a way nothing else could. “It immediately felt really different than any other study abroad program,” Janna said. “Instead of experiencing just one country, the idea of traveling around the world and learning directly from different cultures just seemed incredibly exciting.”
What she discovered through the voyage was even more powerful than she’d imagined. “The program offered a chance not just to see new places, but to actually experience them in context,” she said. “Studying history, politics, and culture while traveling through those regions – I had the sense that I was expanding my understanding of the world in a way that no classroom could.”
And she was right.
Nearly four decades later, her initial voyage still lives clearly in her memories. She recalls standing before the pyramids in Egypt, walking through ancient ruins in Greece, and experiencing India in a way that changed how she saw the world. “Semester at Sea was very eye-opening,” Janna said. “It really broke down my assumptions. It opened my eyes to how differently people can live – and yet, how much humanity we all share.”
She also remembers the bonds she created at sea. “The life on the ship itself creates lifelong friendships, and there’s a sense that we’re all sharing something very unique together.” Those friendships lasted long after the voyage ended. “It does create lifelong friendships,” she said, “and it’s a sense of really sharing something that’s so unique and doing it together.”
The impacts of Semester at Sea didn’t stop when Janna returned home. Today, she leads an international business, Black Sterling® Friesians, the largest importer of Friesian horses in North America. While Janna has already built her reputation and is an award-winning, world-renowned equestrian, she credits her Semester at Sea voyage with helping give her the courage to build a life that reaches far beyond what she felt might be possible. “I don’t think I would have had the guts to do such a business if I really hadn’t gone outside my comfort zone and gone on a trip like Semester at Sea,” Janna said.
Now, as Janna looks towards the future, she is ensuring that future students will have the same opportunities she did.
One major way Janna is achieving this is by choosing to include Semester at Sea in her estate plans. As a member of The 1963 Society, Janna joins this honorary association, which was established in appreciation of those alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends who have included Semester at Sea in their estate plans through a bequest or a beneficiary designation on retirement assets, insurance, or bank accounts. Janna’s legacy gift reflects the gratitude she feels for the program and her hope for the students who will follow in her footsteps.
“Leaving part of my estate to the program feels like a meaningful way to help ensure that students many years from now can still experience what I did – seeing the world, meeting people from different cultures, and developing a broader perspective on life,” she said.
She believes deeply in the importance of that experience, especially today. “Programs like Semester at Sea are rare and incredibly valuable,” Janna said. “I really believe the world benefits when young people have the chance to experience it firsthand and get a global perspective.”
Janna’s hope for her gift? Simply that more students will be able to say “yes” to a life-changing Semester at Sea voyage, regardless of their financial circumstances. “The world needs global citizens now, more than ever,” Janna said. “By leaving a portion of my estate to Semester at Sea, I’m not just giving money – I’m investing in the next generation’s ability to build empathy.”
Janna knows firsthand how one voyage can create ripples – and courage – that can last a lifetime. And through her estate gift and membership in The 1963 Society, she is helping to make sure many others will experience the same.
To learn more about The 1963 Society or to discuss your estate plan options, please contact the Planned Giving Team at giving@isevoyages.org.
