OEA Congratulates Fund for Education Abroad Scholarship Recipient Shaneice Board
The Office of Education Abroad would like to congratulate Shaneice Board on being awarded a scholarship through the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA)! Shaneice is an International Studies and Computer Science double major, with a minor in Chinese, and she plans to study abroad through The Education Abroad Network’s Semester in Thailand program in fall 2021.
Read on to hear more from Shaneice about what she hopes to gain from her experience abroad, and her advice to other students applying for scholarships.
Q & A with shaneice
Why do you want to study abroad? What do you hope to gain from the experience?
Two of my goals for studying abroad are to become a more well-balanced and interculturally competent person and to explore the world and keep an open mind in a country that is vastly different from my own. These goals are important to me because I am usually only exposed to people in my current city and hometown. Because of this, I know that it is exceedingly important to see the world through a different lens, especially outside from a thirty-mile radius that I am usually used to seeing. I often try to make an impact on my community, but I am also interested in making an impact on people that I could have never imagined that I would have the opportunity of interacting with.
These goals are also important to me because I am interested in viewing the world through other people’s eyes and gaining knowledge from immersing in a country and culture that is entirely new to me. With Thailand being the “Land of Smiles” [and] Bangkok being a global hub of culture, commerce, and cuisine, I believe that it will be a truly eye-opening experience that I will be able to make the most of, and that will allow me to grow as a person.
What are you looking forward to the most in your program and/or host country?
With TEAN’s Semester in Thailand program, I will be able to learn and live in Thailand and have the opportunity to explore neighboring countries in Southeast Asia conveniently from Bangkok. In the past, students have participated in a full-day Thai cooking class, an Ayutthaya day tour, a three-day trip to Chiang Mai, and a weekend trip to Krabi. Aside from excursions offered by TEAN, Thailand has so much to offer, being that Thailand is a country with mountains, lush jungles, and beautiful islands. I am most excited to visit the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, which have several temples and the famous Reclining Buddha statue. I am also looking forward to attending Loy Krathong, a lantern festival where attendees make a wish and release lanterns into the sky, and the Vegetarian Festival in Bangkok.
What advice would give other students applying for your scholarship?
The advice that I would give other students that apply to a Fund for Education Abroad scholarship is to go in-depth with telling your story. No one can write your story as well as you can, so my advice is to reflect on your experience and elaborate on how your experiences got you here today. Don’t be afraid to include any obstacles in your journey and how you grew from them. Lastly, be sure to relate your goals back to the reason that you are choosing your study abroad program!
About the Fund for Education Abroad
The mission of the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the U.S. study abroad population. FEA makes life-changing, international experiences accessible to all by supporting students of color, community college, and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programs.