By: Alissia Sannuto
On Thursday, October 6th, students, on-site staff, and instructors from all Summer Abroad programs gathered in Hart House’s Great Hall for an evening of long overdue catching up. For the past 50 years, Summer Abroad has allowed students to not only enrich their academic lives but their personal ones as well.
Summer Abroad contributes to each individual’s journey of becoming, as they are pushed into a fast and intensive pace—unlike any other classroom setting. This allows bonds to form, lecture content to be absorbed more easily and lifelong memories to form—these are all factors, that were exhibited through the Summer Abroad programs and continued to be on display at the reunion.
As I looked around the room, I saw a sea of past Summer Abroad students who were pushed out of their comfort zones and returned home: stronger, wiser, and more confident individuals—this is one of the many beauties of Summer Abroad. These students also experienced a heavy heart because we know that no university experience will ever be like the one, we had this past summer.
As Summer Abroad alumni, we not only participated in a course abroad or went on field trips—we allowed our host country to become a part of our identity. We experienced a world that was reborn after the Covid-19 pandemic, forever known as a difficult moment within our human history yet we continue to use the new knowledge that we have gained to help shape the world into a better place.
Summer Abroad is more than a month overseas or a full-year credit. It’s an opportunity that contributes to one’s journey of becoming. Becoming better students, people, and the best possible version of themselves. The Summer Abroad team understands and values this notion. So, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to the Summer Abroad team for allowing me to write this article, and for your 50 years of dedication and continuous efforts to generate life-changing experiences. I would also like to thank; all the instructors for educating us, and the on-site staff for being there for all our needs. Most importantly, the students of Summer Abroad—none of this would have been possible without you.