Washington’s trip causes him to rethink his plans

Special to The ArgusAside from the value of an education, the most important aspect of the four (or five for this writer) years that we spend in college is experience. We experience both meaningful and worthless relationships with friends and “love interests” that socially mature us into adults. Then there is the experience of sacrifice when we’re faced with an all too familiar dilemma: Do I wash clothes this week, or eat today? These sorts of experiences test our character and form the core of who we become as adults. One of the most profitable experiences of college is one that sadly, many Black students never have the opportunity to enjoy: travel. Imagine this: For 100 days, you cruise on board 23,000 ton passenger ship. Within those 100 days, you port in nine different countries and meet students from all over the United States and other parts of the world. This is an opportunit y that as of yet, only a very few RAMS have experienced. Byron Washington, a junior Business major, is one of those students. Washington spent the fall semester of 2003, on board the SS Universe Explorer with Semester at Sea. Now Washington says, “Studying abroad is something I consider a must. This trip caused me to re-evaluate my dreams, and make them bigger, make them wider.” “The trip, which included ports in Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Tanzania, South Africa, Brazil, and Cuba, also allowed Byron to expand his vision beyond anything that he’d thought possible. Upon returning to the United States, Washington realizes the impact that African Americans can have on the rest of the world. “It showed me that in our lives, there are so many things that have broken us down and destroyed parts of the African American community, but we as African American students and especially as Christians, have to do as Nehemiah did, and purpose in our hearts that if nobody else wants to help [rebuild the torn down], if nobody else wants to reach out to those who have been broken … then we will.” Just being able to know the effect that a willing mind can have on the world has changed the way Byron views everything.  “Two minutes playing with children or just a second to smile at them was all that they needed to be happy.” There are problems outside of the United States and there are also joys outside of the United States. Washington returns with the perspective that we live in a global community must expand our minds beyond the United States. “Get out of the box,” Washington says, “Get out of looking at things from an American standpoint. Move from being ethnocentric and see other countries, [other people] with an open mind. Standing on the Great Wall, attending worship services in South Africa and being mistaken in Vietnam for Chris Tucker changes the way we as Americans look at other countries and people. Now, for Byron, traveling is a must.  Aside from the philosophical, spiritual, economic, ect., enlightenment of Semester at Sea, it was just plain fun. How many times in life can we hold a baby tiger, pet a crocodile, or crawl through actual Vietnam war tunnels?”Such a trip will most likely serve to either completely change or enhance one’s view on global affairs. Washington returns to WSSU with a renewed vision and purpose. “The world is bigger than where we live, the United States. In order to compete as African-American’s we must travel and see the world, so that we can be [a vital] part of the global [community].” Connecting with so many people from other countries gave Byron a different perspective on the world and particularly, on the United States.  Economically, there is so much that the world has to offer and that in contrast, we have to offer to the world.”