Study Abroad Funding for Celeste

Hello!

My name is Celeste Holliday. I am a junior currently pursuing my B.A. in Biology with minors in Anthropology and Museum Studies at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA.

This GoFundMe is for those who wish to help me mitigate tuition, housing and meal costs while overseas that are not covered by a potential scholarship.

I am studying abroad in London, England for two weeks in May of 2023.

While abroad, the current itinerary has us visiting 27 museums, and 3 cities, as well as optional trips to the performing arts centers nearby, including the West End Theatre and the Royal Opera House. Some of the renowned institutions we will be touring include The Tate Modern, London Zoo, and Westminster Abbey. However, we will be doing more than just attending these landmarks as guests, we will be analyzing their use of display cases, lighting controls, humidity controls, exhibition labels, shelf labels, and overall organization in terms of traffic flow and placement of the most popular artifacts. The investigation of all of these factors will broaden my horizons as to what other countries prioritize regarding the facilitation of knowledge. I believe that to serve others, you have to understand them first. This trip is precisely about that, understanding a global perspective of educating the public on the importance of history and the arts. From there, I will be applying that knowledge to my future to understand and serve individuals and celebrate differences in culture.

Studying abroad was a plan I never thought would be possible in my lifetime. Not only am I a first-generation college student, but in addition, I work two part-time jobs, as a barista and as a substitute teacher for the local school system, to pay for my tuition and housing during the academic year. A first-generation college student, by definition, states that neither of my parents completed a 4-year degree. To me though, being a first-generation college student means so much more. I have navigated moving over 5 and a half hours away from home, living on my own, managing my finances, and setting new expectations for future members of my family. However, despite its challenges, it has prepared me academically to be a successful scholar abroad. If I can remain in good academic standing, maintain two jobs, volunteer as an intern at an Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited organization, and hold an executive position within my chapter of a greek life organization, I am prepared to lead in a way that finalizes my life of significance. I am overcoming these academic difficulties by setting achievable goals for myself and making sure I keep my eyes set on what I want to accomplish in this world; to foster, nurture and grow the curiosity of young minds in the next generation of scientists.

I want to thank my friends and family for pushing me to go this far, and that no one should feel obligated to fund my education. This is just an all-in-one place for anyone who is able and wants to help me manage a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity offered by the university. Thank you :)