Experience fostered personal growth, increased self-confidence and expanding one’s world
Channing Toy came to Wilmington College with an interest in studying abroad, but as a two-sport student-athlete, she didn’t think it would be possible until she learned about a summer program at England’s venerable University of Cambridge.
Toy is a sophomore from Salem, OH, with dual majors in criminal justice and biology/environmental studies. She runs on the cross country team in the fall and plays softball in the spring, which compromised her chance for a semester abroad unless she wanted to give up a sports season — she found a better option.
PICTURED: Channing Toy (top row second from the right) celebrates with friends from around the world.
Wilmington College’s Office of International Affairs facilitates long-, medium- and short-term study opportunities literally around the world. Toy learned about a month-long summer program on globalization at the University of Cambridge’s Girton College, where students take an intensive three modules in topics including economics of globalization, international relations theory and the role of non-state actors and the international order.
Complementing the academic lectures and seminars were day trips to London, Oxford, York and Ely, along with the distinct experience of being immersed in the University of Cambridge’s more than 800-year history as one of the world’s preeminent educational institutions. It also offered free time to explore enchanting England.
PICTURED: Channing Toy is pictured on one of her many cultural excursions, this one, the Grant Museum of Zoology.
Describing the summer experience as “one of the most amazing experiences of my life,” Toy praised the academic opportunities, but what she found life-transforming was traveling alone to a foreign country where she didn’t know anyone. “There was something special about realizing that a place that had once felt so far away could start to feel like home,” she said. “Every train ride, long walk, museum visit, gelato stop, wrong turn and unexpected adventure became part of the experience. It taught me to be comfortable with the unknown, appreciate the little moments, and say, ‘yes,’ to opportunities that push me outside my comfort zone.”
Toy found great value in intentionally living in the present. Indeed, she reveled in such seemingly simple things as watching the countryside pass by through a train window, enjoying breakfast in the dining hall with her friends, sprinting through train stations to catch her train and gaining the self-confidence that comes with navigating cities on one’s own.
PICTURED: Channing Toy (RIGHT) and friends enjoy ice cream at Cambridge University.
She even found a softball team in London, where she witnessed her sport in another country. “It brought me back to the love I first found for softball,” she said. “Seeing people playing so carefree and enjoying a game that means so much to me was really special. It reminded me that sports are about more than competition, and that the joy of playing can be found all over the world.”
As often is the case, people made it an unforgettable experience. “One of the most meaningful parts of being there was meeting classmates from around the world and learning from the different cultures, backgrounds and perspectives,” she said. Her classmates who quickly became friends came from Spain, Italy, China, India, Lebanon and Australia.
“I appreciated not only being able to learn from the professors, but also from the other people around me,” Toy added. “Learning to embrace every moment made my experience so special. I was able to experience so many new things without worrying about what was coming next or feeling like I needed to have everything figured out. I learned to appreciate the little moments just as much as the big ones. Those small moments were the ones that made me feel the most alive and reminded me that I was truly living the experience rather than just going through the motions.”
Salim Hussien, associate vice president for international affairs, said Toy's summer at Cambridge is a good example of what the College hopes students discover: “That studying abroad doesn't have to mean giving up a sports season or putting graduation on hold.” His office supports international and exchange students through recruitment, admissions and visa guidance, and works with domestic students on semester, summer and faculty-led programs abroad. “We have study abroad partnerships in more than 15 countries, including Spain, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Morocco, South Korea, Italy, Switzerland and South Africa, among others,” Hussien added. “Channing's month at Cambridge shows what these experiences can do: build confidence, widen your view of the world and help you grow as a person.” Students who want to learn more can email studyabroad@wilmington.edu. “We're happy to walk through the options.”
TOP PHOTO: Channing Toy is pictured with London's iconic Big Ben clock tower and Parliament in the background.