MEET EMILIE: Finding My Voice Through The Power Of Connection Abroad

Alumni profile: Emilie Cantante

Global Glimpse Alumni: Orosi, Costa Rica, 2023
Education: Professional Performing Arts School, New York City, 2024
Your Global Glimpse Experience in 3 Words: Magical, Transformative, Eye-opening

“Even though I was actively working toward pushing my comfort zone and personal growth on my trip, it’s still so crazy to think about me then vs. me now. I literally think Global Glimpse was the most life changing experience I’ve ever had.” – Emilie C.

While the effects of isolation and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic were felt by all, a recent CDC survey found that 40% of high school students reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression during this time—a significant increase compared to pre-pandemic levels¹.

Let’s take a moment to absorb that statistic: nearly half of students aged 14 to 18 were struggling with increased loneliness, decreased academic performance³, and declining overall mental health.

One of these students was Global Glimpse alumnus, Emilie Cantante.

In 2020, Emilie was just weeks away from graduating eighth grade when her school went into lockdown and transitioned to online learning. She didn’t get to celebrate this milestone with her friends or find closure on that important chapter of her life.

“I was so painfully shy, and online learning really took a toll on my mental health. I became deeply depressed, didn’t have any friends, and spent most of my time in bed and alone. My grades were slipping, and so was my connection to the world around me.”

Even more challenging, she had to begin her freshman year at an entirely new school with classmates she had never even interacted with before.

Fast forward to her junior year: things began to open up, and Emilie was able to attend school in person. However, she still struggled to make friends and to grow past some of her mental health challenges to become the person she knew she could be.

“I was in a bad place. In the most important year of high school, my grades were the worst they had ever been. I was having issues with my friends, and there was so much pressure to succeed. I felt completely overwhelmed. That’s when I found Global Glimpse, and my life changed forever. Because of my trip, I was able to become my authentic self and discover a love of life and confidence that hadn’t existed before.”

How did you find Global Glimpse?

I remember this so vividly! I was sitting in my humanities class after lunch and a group of Global Glimpse seniors were presenting about their experiences. At first I was super focused on my work and wasn’t totally paying attention, but then something they said caught my attention and I was completely captivated. I love traveling, so that immediately clicked, and all my focus was on how they talked about how life-changing it was for them.

“I felt like I really needed something like Global Glimpse because I didn’t like school at that moment. I wasn’t really happy with myself. I felt like I needed a push to get out of my comfort zone and change the situation I was in. I knew I had to get nominated and fundraise which was scary, but ultimately traveling without my parents to a new country seemed like an opportunity that I wanted, especially to prove to myself that I wasn’t stuck in the fog I was in. It felt like the universe was finally giving me my chance to actively make some big changes in my life and I knew I was going to take it.”

What did your parents think when you brought up the opportunity?

Honestly, they were really excited—nervous, of course, but ultimately excited! I was so quiet and shy that they couldn’t believe this was something I wanted to do, but I think they also recognized it as an opportunity for me to grow. Now, when we talk about it, they’re so proud of the person I’ve become!

Funny story: I was just telling my dad that I was working on this profile, which is something old Emilie would never have done. Never would I have put myself out there and embraced an opportunity like this. He was like, “WOW! This trip is still making such a difference in your life. That’s amazing!”

What do you think it was about your trip that really impacted your mental health for the better?

Hmmm, that’s a really good question, and I think it was a mix of everything!

First, I felt like I could be my true, authentic self. People at my school always knew me as the quiet, shy girl. I actually remember regretting going on the trip for the first three days in Costa Rica. I was too scared to say much, but then I saw everyone in the group opening up and being genuine and vulnerable with each other, which gave me the confidence to put myself out there.

I remember thinking, “I’m in another country, I’m with new people—I’m going to reinvent myself!” I felt like I had this incredible opportunity in front of me, and I was determined to take full advantage of it. With this mindset, I could leave who I was at school behind, break out of my comfort zone, and be whoever I wanted to be. I took risks, saw new perspectives and truly opened my eyes to what life could be.

Another significant aspect of the program that impacted my mental health journey was not having my phone. I’ll be honest: When I first signed up for the program I didn’t know about the no phone policy, but once we landed and I turned my phone in, I took it as my chance to get offline and in touch with the world around me.

I went to school in Manhattan and am a city girl, so I’m usually connected to my phone during my commute and throughout the day. Not having it felt really weird at first, but it was awesome, too.

“For the first time I can remember, I was 100% present, and I feel like that allowed me to connect more with my group and fully engage in the experience. A part of the trip that I was kind of dreading ended up giving me the freedom to explore other things in life.”

I also journaled a lot. I still look back at those journal entries sometimes to reflect on the experience and what I was going through. I let my journal be a sort of phone replacement. By allowing my thoughts to flow onto paper, I was able to better process all the emotions I experienced and articulate the growth I wanted to achieve. I wasn’t really into journaling before, but it provided me with an outlet to express my feelings and process what I was experiencing, both on the trip and at home.

All of these elements really opened my eyes to the fact that you don’t need material things to be happy. You just need friendship and love, and that changed my perspective.All of these elements really opened my eyes to the fact that you don’t need material things to be happy. You just need friendship and love, and that changed my perspective.

You mentioned coming back from your Global Glimpse trip a different person? Can you share more?

To this day, if someone asks me how I went from being a scared, introverted girl who didn’t know how to socialize with others to studying acting in college and embracing a love for life, I talk about Global Glimpse!

“I truly came back from Costa Rica as a new version of myself. I wanted to talk to people, experience everything, see the world, and help others! My grades improved because I wasn’t afraid to participate in class. I give more to my friends and receive more in return. I always say I went on that trip as shy, scared girl, then came back a totally new and better version of myself.”

Even though I was actively working on pushing my comfort zone and pursuing personal growth during my trip, it’s still amazing to think about who I was then compared to who I am now. I genuinely believe Global Glimpse was the most life-changing experience I’ve ever had.

What would you tell another person who is thinking about applying to Global Glimpse?

“Because of my experiences, I encourage you to take that leap. Don’t be shy. This is your chance to reinvent yourself and be who YOU want to be!”

Just go for it. Get out of your comfort zone because you don’t know what kind of person you can become by trying new things. For me, I was specifically looking for change; I didn’t like where I was or the person I was becoming. When I went on my trip, I thought, “You’re either going to be stuck like this forever, or you’re going to embrace big changes and opportunities.” So I went for it!

While this is just one student’s path to improving their mental health, we understand that each journey is unique. At Global Glimpse, we are constantly amazed by the students who join us and the outcomes they experience by embracing travel as an outlet for personal growth. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, it’s important to seek help and support from professionals, friends, or family members who can provide understanding and guidance—such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Text Line: text HOME to 741741 for free, 24/7 support, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264). Remember, you’re never alone.

Articles Referenced:

¹Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Youth risk behavior surveillance—United States, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs

²American Psychological Association. (2021). Reports on adolescent mental health during COVID-19. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2021/report-adolescent-mental-health

³McKinsey & Company. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 on student learning in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/education/our-insights/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-student-learning-in-the-united-states

⁴American Psychological Association. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on adolescent mental health: A review of the evidence. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2020/report