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Neighbors | Submitted.Alexandra Zolden a Canfield resident met with Leah TuTu during the Semester at Sea program she is participating in for her college degree.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Canfield resident Alexandra Zoldan met Desmond TuTu after winning an essay contest during the Semester at Sea program she is part of for her college degree.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
Canfield resident Alexandria Zoldan is currently on a ship exploring the world while participating in a three and a half month Semester at Sea program.
Not only is the program beneficial to helping Zoldan earn her degree at The Ohio State University, but it has provided Zoldan the opportunity to meet Desmond and Leah Tutu. Desmon is a human rights activist and Nobel Prize winner from South Africa. His wife, Leah, was a teacher when they met, but now she is a provider for her family and one of the founders of the South African Domestic Workers Association. The Tutu’s work hard to help defend the rights of people throughout the world.
The students in the Semester at Sea program were asked to write an essay answering the question “Why do you want to meet the Archbishop Desmond Tuto?” Faculty chose the candidates that would represent Semester at Sea and get the opportunity to attend a reception and meet with the Archbishop and his wife. Zoldan’s essay focused on how she was astounded with his continuous positive and forgiving outlook on life.
“My thoughts were of pure joy and excitement, with my only worry being what I was going to ask or talk to the Archbishop and his wife about in order to take full advantage of such a unique and once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Zoldan.
Zoldan said her meeting with the Archbishop and his wife was everything she imagined and more.
Desmond told Zoldan, “The best investment for human kind is young people like you.”
The Semester at Sea program and the people Zoldan has met have reiterated to her what is important in life. She said there is nothing like it in the whole world and she would recommend the program to anyone and everyone who is interested.
“I cannot even begin to explain how the Semester at Sea and the meeting with the Tutu’s has benefited me. Traveling the world and meeting all different kinds of people who have come from completely different paths of life than I, has allowed for me to grow and become a more open-minded, understanding and grateful person,” said Zoldan.
Anyone who is interested in Zoldan’s experience with Semester at Sea can visit her blog at amzoldan.wixsite.com/website which will be fully updated on April 19 and 20, visit her Instagram under the username lexizoldan or send her an e-mail at Alexandra.zoldan.sp17@semesteratsea.org.