Behind the Lens, Behind the Stories: Getting to Know Our 2024 Correspondents of the Year

Study abroad has redefined the world for thousands of students, and the 2024 Correspondents of the Year are no exception. Whether you followed their adventures in real time or are just now discovering them—this is a story you won’t want to miss. 

✍️ Blogger of the Year, Billy Greene (they/them) from Lawrence University captivated reader’s hearts with their authenticity and reflection on exploring identity while in Auckland, New Zealand. 

📸 Photographer of the Year, Clara Smartt (she/her) from Trinity University documented the magic of study abroad in vivid color from one of her snapshots gracing the cover of our 2025-2026 South America catalog to taking photos that'll have you daydreaming about your next trip.

🤳Social Media Correspondent of the Year, Dara Abimbola (she/her) from Franklin & Marshall College peeled back the highlight reel to show us study abroad through her eyes—unfiltered, relatable, and fun like catching up with a close friend.

Now, we’re passing the mic to hear about life's really like on the other side of study abroad. The 2024 Correspondents of the Year are sharing their expert advice on maximizing your next journey, the moments that stuck with them, and hearing what’s next—spoiler: the journey doesn't end when the plane lands, it's just getting started. 

Billy Greene (BG): As a lover of consistent practice, the Correspondent Program kept me alert for new ideas, experiences, and creative interventions for blog posts. I primarily kept a journal where I could remember cafés, music, and cool locations months after visiting them. Whenever I'd write a blog, I'd page through my entries, locating patterns across my time or anything I'd want to revisit. It was a goal of mine to do something worth remembering everyday: I likely wouldn't have taken as many bold steps in Aotearoa New Zealand without the program! 

Clara Smartt (CS): Being a Photography Correspondent did not feel like a job I had to perform during my time in Ecuador, but rather something that I did organically and had the privilege of sharing with others. I love taking photos of everything I do when I travel, so I can always remember everything I experienced, not just the big things, but also the little everyday things, like meals and school. My role as a Photography Correspondent helped me to be even more intentional about remembering to capture everything through my lens. I used my phone the entire time abroad to take my photos, so you don’t need anything fancy equipment or expert experience. I would encourage anyone who enjoys taking pictures or looking back on photos to help them remember experiences to apply to be a Correspondent.   

Dara Abimbola (DA): Being a Correspondent helped me document my journey intentionally and pushed me to explore more. Knowing I had to share my experience made me step outside my comfort zone—from hiking mountains to touring Sicily to submitting a short film for the IES Abroad Film Festival. I’d encourage students to record their time abroad because reflection deepens the experience, and looking back, you’ll see how much you’ve grown. 

CS: If I had to pick just one most rewarding aspect of my time abroad, I would choose the friendship I formed with my host family in Quito. After having to switch host families for personal reasons two weeks into my program, I started to give up on the idea of host families; however, my new host family placement immediately welcomed me into their family and made me feel like I was part of the family from the start. While I was only with them a few weeks before heading to the Galapagos, my time with Ingrid and my host brothers was one of the best memories of my time abroad. They integrated me into their family dynamics and encouraged me to join in on all their day-to-day activities, helping me get a true feel for life as a local in Quito. A year later, I am still in touch with them and I can’t wait to visit them sometime soon.   

DA (pictured below): The community. Alongside meeting out students from InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, I found deep friendships with Kayla and Porsche, who became lifelong sisters. I also joined YousMilano’s Wednesday youth group, where everything was in Italian—singing, fellowship, and prayer. That’s honestly how I learned Italian faster and grew spiritually at the same time. This was rewarding because I increased my Italian understanding and I strengthened my network. 

BG: I've been back at my home school of Lawrence University! I'm finishing up a thesis for my Gender Studies degree, writing and reading poetry at local events, and rehearsing a couple dance works premiering this Spring. I also have returned to my helm at our student-run newspaper, The Lawrentian! Over spring break, I'm keeping my travel bug fed with a road trip across the Pacific Northwest. While I'm not graduating for another year and a half, I'm beginning to research how I could return to Aotearoa New Zealand—either for graduate school, or for a career in editing/writing. 

BG: I touched on how my queerness interacted with my time abroad in my blog, "Flush with Becoming." In short, my non-binary identity both blessed me with a tight-knit community of friends and faced me with some unfortunate experiences—particularly, when it came to romance. It can be exhausting having to "explain" who I am—which is why I am beyond grateful for many of my IES Abroad cohort peers and advisors!   

DA: As a Christian, my faith shaped every part of my study abroad experience. Worshiping and praying in Italian at YousMilano reminded me that God is present in every culture and language. Through every challenge and new experience, I learned to trust Him more deeply—and that no matter where I am, I’m never alone. 

BG: While abroad, find a way to commemorate your experience: through writing, photography, art—whatever it may be. Cultivate your time through the lens of your passion. You will thank yourself for any way you can capture how fleeting those months overseas are. In that same token, you're only there for so long: take some risks! Some of the best friendships I had while in Aotearoa New Zealand happened because I—as an ambiverted American—initiated a conversation. In such a small frame of time in a new place, anything and everything is possible. It's up to you to make it unforgettable. 

CS (photographer of photo above): Everyone always says that studying abroad will be the best experience in your life, and you know what, they are right! You’ll meet amazing people, see a beautiful new part of the world, and feel like you are in a movie, but it’s important to remember that it will not all be amazing and perfect. You will get homesick and tired and maybe even a little bored, but you have to remember to explore every new opportunity, leap out of your comfort zone, and embrace the wonderful adventure you are on! Your experience abroad is very dependent on the way you approach it. The more you put in, the more you will get out of it. Whether you are interested in traveling, learning a new language or culture, seeing a new environment or wildlife, or whatever your motivation might be, IES Abroad has a program that is right for you and staff ready to welcome and encourage you to have the best experience possible.