For Ohio Northern University junior Mallory Orick, studying abroad is a joy, and she appreciates the many opportunities ONU provides to expand her worldview and learn about, and from, other cultures.
Hailing from Lima, Ohio, she had planned to leave the state for college but “fell in love with the atmosphere and the personalized education at ONU.” She is an English literature major with a pre-law minor who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in English and become a professor.
“I want to teach world literature and take students on study abroad trips so, among other things, they can discover the inspiration behind different works of literature.”
For the spring 2025 semester, Mallory chose Australia’s Bond University for her study abroad experience.
“I’m in the Gold Coast, which is known as a surfer’s paradise; I have always admired the carefree surfer mindset.”
Mallory spent the spring semester of her sophomore year, 2024, in Rome, Italy, at The American University. It was her first study abroad experience.
After that experience, she realized one study abroad experience wouldn’t satisfy her growing desire to see the world. So, she signed up for the Semester at Sea program for the fall semester, though she wasn’t sure if being at sea would suit her.
Many questions were racing around in her mind, but “something told me this program would change my life. So, I applied and left on September 9 and returned December 22.”
She visited The Netherlands, Portugal, Morocco, Ghana, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Thailand. She took classes in global studies, writing arguments, history of contemporary Europe, and comparative literature.
One of Mallory’s favorite memories “was when we went on a Sahara Desert trek in Morocco. We rode camels and calculated constellations while watching shooting stars. We slept in a tent, and it was such a surreal experience that I think about all the time. I also got to pet a cheetah and go on a safari in South Africa.”
“Participating in Semester at Sea reminded me how much more fun it is to turn your phone off and absorb what is right in front of you.”
