Joy Worldwide Inc. Photo Contest Winners Fall 2025

We’re excited to announce the winners of the Joy Worldwide Inc. Photo Contest! These stunning photos capture unique perspectives and unforgettable moments from our participants' study abroad journeys.

To dive deeper, we asked our winners two questions: What does your submitted photo represent to you? and How has your study abroad experience already impacted or changed you? Their answers revealed personal transformations, newfound perspectives, and unforgettable memories shaped by their experiences abroad.

1st Place : Sidney Eramil 2nd Place: Zaria Samuel 3rd Place: Adriana Sneed

What does your submitted photo represent to you? 

Sidney Eramil: “My photo represents the moments of connection I’ve been building outside my comfort zone through communal dinners, local events, and affinity mixers as I try to find community in a space that often feels unfamiliar. Even though it’s been challenging to meet people in a program where many already came with friends, these moments remind me that genuine connection can grow from courage and curiosity.”

Zaria Samuel: “This photo represents my sense of freedom and personal transformation during my time abroad. The colorful background reflects the happiness, vibrancy, and range of emotions I’ve experienced while immersing myself in a new culture. What I love most about this photo is the contrast between my all-white outfit and the vivid background, symbolizing my openness to new experiences and my willingness to embrace everything around me.

The photo was taken in Guatapé, a small town near Medellín, Colombia. The energy of the town is visible in the photo. The bright, colorful streets mirror the contentment, vitality, and joy of life in the pueblo. To me, this image captures not only a moment in time but also the growth, curiosity, and sense of possibility that travel and living abroad have inspired in me. It’s a visual reminder of how stepping outside my comfort zone can open me up to new perspectives, emotions, and experiences.”

Adriana Sneed: “My submitted photo represents to me, the best way to speak, through art. I have always been passionate about history and art so to have the opportunity to visit Le Louvre was amazing. I have always dreamed of going and it was truly breathtaking. I admire how people can display so much feeling, passion, and hard work through their art, and I can’t imagine the work that went into creating this beautiful sculpture.  It represents to me elegance and even the subtle things within this sculpture, like the necklace with chains and a face, can signify so many things. This represents how you can create something so beautiful and inspiring that can last for centuries. This is what I hope to do in my future work, help create a world so beautiful and inspiring that can last long after me.”

How has your study abroad experience already impacted or changed you?

Sidney Eramil: “Studying abroad has challenged how I think about culture and belonging. Being in Denmark has shown me that community can look different, yet still feel familiar. I’ve noticed that people here have a strong neighborhood bond, similar to my own family and ethnic culture. This experience has also made me reflect on how much globalization shapes language and connection hearing English slang naturally mixed into Danish conversations reminds me how interconnected we all are.”

Zaria Samuel: “My study abroad experience has deeply transformed the way I see the world and myself. Living in Colombia, surrounded by vibrant towns like Guatapé, has shown me that life can be experienced in many different ways, whether in terms of race, culture, values, or simple joys. I’ve met people with perspectives very different from my own, some of which have challenged me, but these experiences have allowed me to step outside the mindset that there is only one “right” way to live or think, a notion that Western culture often promotes.

This experience has highlighted just how essential it is for Black women to study abroad. It creates space to explore perspectives, histories, and cultures often overlooked in the U.S. context. Engaging with the world beyond American borders allows us to claim our own narratives, build confidence, and expand our understanding of freedom and possibility. Studying abroad has broadened my worldview, strengthened my empathy, and helped me see the beauty in perspectives that differ from my own, changing not just how I think but how I relate to the world and the people in it.”

Adriana Sneed: “My study abroad experience has already changed me by showing me how strong I actually am. I have learned to find solace in being by myself which is something I have always struggled with. It has shown me that I can thrive in foreign environments and new situations, I would never experience at home. This opportunity to grow as a human is irreplaceable to my development. I have had the opportunity to connect with people all over the world and hear their unique stories, which was my goal coming abroad. No matter how different someone is, there is always one thing you can find in common. I have been exposed to many different worldviews and topics than I hoped for.”