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GILMAN OPPORTUNITY & REFLECTION

Published on by AdriLeave a comment

The Gilman scholarship is a fantastic, generous recourse for anyone studying abroad looking for more aid. Not only does it provide financial support, but also recourse support, and helps add meaning to study abroad, before you leave and when you return. Their application is contemplative and not too time consuming. If you have need, you’ll most likely get it, although it has gotten a bit competitive. Below I have all the information you need, broken down for you, and the digital version of my follow on community presentation, compromised of my image diary from abroad. Documenting my travels and meaningful photos of people and places.

How to Apply:

Go to https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/

Take note of the Deadlines

Make an Account

Answer the Questions

Work with an Advisor (a built in, easy process thanks to DU)

Submit!

How Much Can You Get?
Up to $5,000 for eligible study abroad or internship programs.

Additional funds available:

Up to $3,000 for studying a critical need language.

Up to $1,000 for conducting STEM-related research abroad.

When to Apply?
October 2025 Deadline: Application opens: Mid-August 2025

Student deadline: October 9, 2025, 11:59 PM PT

Advisor certification deadline: October 16, 2025, 11:59 PM PT

For programs starting between December 1, 2025, and October 31, 2026.

Who’s Eligible?
-U.S. citizens receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the application or abroad program period.

Enrolled in a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program.

Programs must be at least two weeks (community college) or three weeks (four-year institution).

Now…

Here is some work regarding my follow on project! Enjoy the images below, that I took studying abroad, and catch a little glimpse into what your experience could look like!

A note on the images: My focus in photography is primarily portraits, including street photography, landscape, and architecture. In this showcase I will also show a collage presentation of portraits. This portion will be portraits of individuals, professors or any person who impacted my study abroad experience. Alongside this is a collection of street photographs; these photographic portraits are to demonstrate different daily lives and culture practices. In my travels I have found street photography to be the best way to push my comfort zone. It has led me to experience a deeper cultural immersion through hearing stories from diverse people and cultures. By integrating the impact of my experience through my photography it will go beyond simply giving a presentation or personal anecdote of my experiences. This collection of images will reach the artistic community, and those beyond at my university. It will be the most efficient way to reach a large, diverse community. I hope to inspire other art students to push the boundaries of their artistic practices and comfort zones by studying abroad. The primary message of this showcase will be sharing the importance of cultural and artistic awareness because of studying abroad.

Couple in Venice
Tourists in Venice
Self Portrait in Florence
Couple in Rome Resting
City in Italy, Discussion under laundry
Self Portrait, Rome Solo Trip
Vegetable/Fruit Boat Vendor in Venice.
The Strangers I met in Bled, Slovenia, us while exploring the Slovenian National Park
The Girls from the Faroe Islands who I met at my Hostel
First Solo Trip, Self Portrait Outside of Hostel
Noalya Chocolate Brand Shoot, Florence
Milan Fashion Week, Backstage getting ready
DUOMO, Florence
Florence at sunset
Views of Orvieto, Italy
My professor and student, modeling
Food vendor, Berlin park at night
Local artist in his studio in Florence
Leather maker in Florence
Local painter and street artist, outside his studeio, Florence
My jewelry professor, posing for a portrait in her apartment studio
Enjoying the sunset, looking over barcelona at Bunkers al Carmel
La Sagrada Familia
Center Park in Madrid
Couple sleeping on bench in park in Madrid
Street art vendor
Street musician, smoking kills, Sitges, Spain
Valerncia, Spain. Couple taking selfie
Grandmother and Child, Paris
Man reading paper on bench, park in Paris
Sightseeing at the Lourve
Influencer and my Mother, side by side, in Paris
Street musician framed by the Eiffel Tower.
Parade participants, posing before the Carnival Parade
Sitges, Carnival Parade 2025
The importance of the churches in Sienna
Tuscan Countryside
San Giminiano
Lifelong best friend visiting me
Touristing in Pisa
Cathedral
Mosque in Morocco

Settling in: Classes, Friends, and Exploring Tokyo!

Published on by SophiaLeave a comment

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been getting into the swing of things with my classes and adjusting to my new schedule. I actually had to register for an additional class after realizing I forgot to sign up for one that was kind of important; oops! Luckily, I was able to fix it without too much trouble.

I’ve also been making an effort to meet people in my classes, and I’ve had some success! One of my classes is a smaller group, and we do a lot of interactive activities with the people sitting around us. It’s been a great way to connect and find study buddies. One of my new friends is doing a year-long program at Waseda, and another is a full-time Waseda student from a different department. It’s really cool to see the different paths people are on, even though we’re in the same classes.

After class, my friends and I like to grab lunch together or find a spot to study. Some of my courses are pretty challenging, so I’ve been spending a good amount of time reviewing and preparing outside of class. One class in particular is tough: my professor speaks only in Japanese and moves so fast. Half the time, I can’t keep up with what she’s saying! But since it’s just a one-credit course and I’m not the only one struggling, I’m treating it like a fun challenge and sticking with it.

This past weekend, I got to travel a bit and hang out with friends. I even met someone on the train who goes to a different language school and happens to live near me. I also made a Japanese friend recently, and it’s been awesome sharing parts of our cultures with each other, especially the parts that differ significantly! Hanging out, talking, and exploring Tokyo together with my friends has been such a highlight. It makes everything feel a little more special.

This past week, I took various photos from places that I went. Firstly, I went to Senso Ji, which was extremely busy. I liked it, but it definitely was not my favorite. Then, I went to Shimokitazawa, which is a second-hand shopping district with my Japanese friend, and it was super fun! I didn’t end up buying anything because were just talking the whole time and it was quite expensive, but I still had a blast. After that, my train friend and I watched some live music at a local coffee shop next to our house! I got to meet some more locals and practice my Japanese. Finally, I just added some random flicks from Ikebukuro, my school, and a cute station cat in a sweater on a chilly day.

Here are some photos from this past week:

That’s all I have for now, but I have some big plans this weekend that I am going to keep a surprise until I post about it hehe. See you next time!