Antoine Washington, a senior majoring in political science and minoring in history and law and social thought, was the first in his family to apply for a passport and travel abroad.
As he launched his undergraduate studies, a growing interest in international travel was sparked. Washington, a Cleveland native, developed a strong desire to connect and engage with individuals from various backgrounds to gain a deeper understanding of their cultures.
Antoine Washington spent last summer at J.F. Oberlin University in Tokyo studying International Relations and Japanese Pop Culture, becoming the first in his family to apply for a passport and travel abroad.
“I knew I would study political science when I came to college because of my love of history and social studies,” Washington said. “I’ve always had questions about the way we live, and a study of politics is helpful in understanding the human experience.”
Dr. Roberto Padilla II, an associate professor of history, greatly influenced Washington’s journey by sharing his own experiences of visiting Japan.
“I first met Mr. Washington in HIST 2700: Japan and World War II, which can be a challenging course for many students because it is largely taught from the perspective of Tokyo. Mr. Washington was engaged, diligent in preparing and completing assignments, and despite his innate shyness was a standout among his peers,” Padilla said. “I have since had him in other courses. He regularly contributed to lecture in either asking or answering questions, and I felt that he was genuinely enjoying himself. It has been my pleasure to have him in both of these classes, he is what I consider to be a paragon of academic virtue.”
“Dr. Padilla greatly inspired me,” Washington said. “This was my first time going out of the country and he helped to alleviate any concerns I may have had about going to Japan.”
Washington said this sparked his decision to step out of his comfort zone and turn the idea of traveling abroad into a reality. With support from UToledo’s Office of Education Abroad, Washington spent last summer at J.F. Oberlin University in Tokyo studying International Relations and Japanese Pop Culture.
“My favorite class I took was international relations,” he said. “As a political science major, I thought it was important to get a view of global politics outside the view of America and the West.”
Highlights from the trip were making friends from around the world, visiting Kyoto, learning calligraphy and eating Japanese curry. He also strengthened his language skills and learned more about global affairs and foreign policy.
“Given how much Japanese culture I’ve consumed over my life, once I got to Japan the entire experience felt surreal,” Washington said. “Seeing how a collectivist society functioned opened my mind up to how selfishly we live our lives here not having any regard for one another.”
While studying abroad, Washington was awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards for undergraduates to study abroad and was established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000. This scholarship provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
Upon return, Gilman recipients are required to participate in a follow-on project. Washington is an intern at Toledo Tomorrow, a nonprofit that connects first-generation students and offers support with embarking on a journey that may seem daunting. Washington said he plans to share his own experiences in hopes that it will encourage these students to enter college with an eagerness to embrace new experiences.
“It is important that we realize there is a big world out there and there’s much to experience,” Washington said. “I hope I can encourage others to seek that adventure.”
After his planned December graduation, Washington said he will return to Japan to continue his education.
“I plan to go complete a master’s in international relations in Japan,” he said. “My biggest challenge in college has been forging an identity for myself outside what I study and the things I like to do. College and the experiences I have undergone unveiled to me new aspects of my personality and took me places I never thought I would go.”
For students interested in learning more about the Gilman Scholarship opportunity, contact Chessica.Oetjens@utoledo in the Office of Competitive Fellowships.
