Reflections on a Life-Changing Experience

A place of hope like no other on earth

Although Antarctica is amazing, one of the most unique places on earth which will always make it a worthy and remarkable destination for visitors, the island of South Georgia changed my life. We all remember Expedition Leader Jamie Watts telling us that no matter how excited we were to visit South Georgia, we simply were not excited enough. He was right. South Georgia was an unparalleled experience.

On this island (more than any other place we visited) we were able to witness and experience the effects of climate change. Receding glaciers dramatically greeted us at nearly every stop. On shore, penguins, elephant seals, and fur seals struggled to stay cool in the extremely warm temperatures this region is now experiencing. Again and again, the expedition team members pointed out the behavior of these animals, describing how they were attempting to cool themselves or otherwise manifesting stress due to the ambient temperature.

And yet, this place was a place of hope like no other on earth. The populations of seabirds such as penguins that breed here, and most especially the millions of fur seals, were a tangible testimony to the resiliency of nature when small changes are affected to counter damage created by unsustainable human interference and policy. This small island evidences a brighter future if we are willing to make the necessary changes. Any trip to the Antarctic would be tragically lacking if it does not include a visit to multiple places in South Georgia.

The most notable evidence of climate change in the Antarctic Peninsula region was a different problem. The snow totals for this time of year were much higher than in years past. Many of the penguin rookeries we visited were surrounded by deep snow. Nesting couples were still incubating eggs or caring for very young chicks. Once again, the expedition crew pointed out that unfortunately this late into the season, this generation of penguin chicks did not stand a favorable chance of reaching maturity in time to survive the changing seasons. I remember this dramatically demonstrated at Georges Point on Rongé Island where gentoo and chinstrap penguin colonies occupied every bit of snow-free ground, which was severely limited, and were far behind in the breeding cycle when compared to these same types of penguins in colonies we visited along the way.

How could these places, so far removed from human civilization, evidence such dramatic impacts of anthropogenic climate change? This question confounded us at nearly every landing and on every expedition. Perhaps this is the reason this experience is so very important. Moving at the frenetic pace of life in our densely populated cities, it is easy to forget the effects that our policies and choices are having on the planet. However, at the bottom of the world, there is simply no escaping this reality.

Life-changing opportunities

I embarked on this adventure believing I would become an ambassador for Antarctica. I was prepared for this experience to irrevocably change my life. I did not realize that my encounter with such amazing people would inspire me to become an ambassador for ASU and the remarkable opportunities they facilitate through their study abroad program. ASU is creating life-long learners who are going to change the world in many unforeseeable and profound ways!

As a non-traditional, online student, I would like to encourage all students to take advantage of the many study abroad programs and global intensive opportunities ASU has to offer. Especially to other online and non-traditional students like myself – those with busy work and family lives – I would like to say, opportunities like this will change the trajectory of your life and make you a better person for those who depend on you. It is worth setting aside your fears and apprehensions, all the concerns that can become prohibitive excuses, and seize such an opportunity as this one. There is no comparison between reading about the Southern Ocean and the Antarctic or watching videos or listening to lectures and actually seeing this place with your own eyes, breathing the air, and simply being there. You cannot understand without living it yourself.

Final note

As I reflect on this experience, I would be remiss not to highlight the incredible contributions of Dr. Andrew Maynard and Dr. Nicole K. Mayberry that made this ASU study abroad opportunity the success that it was. First, they put together a diverse group of students from a large range of backgrounds and degree paths but somehow, we all enjoyed each other, learned from each other, and most importantly appreciated each other’s differences. This alone is a feat worth mentioning, and yet as an online student, I was truly struck by how incredible ASU students (online and campus immersion) are and was so appreciative of this opportunity to interact with my fellow classmates in person for the first time since I began my ASU journey.

Furthermore, while we all started the trip understanding this was an academic learning opportunity, Dr. Maynard and Dr. Mayberry provided every opportunity for us to glean the most from each new day, adventure, scene, and experience. They allowed us the freedom to apply our own academic backgrounds and unique life perspectives to grow in ways none of us could have anticipated. Their ideas, involvement, direction, and support shaped this into the life-changing experience it became. They were flexible and supportive while allowing growth and development and encouraged all of us to reflect the very best that ASU has to offer by keeping us mindful that when people saw us, they were observing Sun Devils. This served to build comradery among the students and made us proud to be a part of something much larger than our own academic pursuits.

Based on our experiences with the crew and staff of the Ocean Victory, I believe the Antarctica 2022 ASU cohort left an indelible impression on everyone. We gave our university many reasons to be proud of their students. From Joseph Black’s New Year’s Eve toast to the cards and gifts for hotel staff, those who came into contact with us were shown great respect and gratitude. It has always been a personal goal to positively impact the people I am fortunate enough to interact with and it was refreshing to see this is a prevalent attitude among ASU’s many students.

Forever grateful for this experience,

Tamson M. Sydow
Forensic Psychology major

Winter 2023