A Transformational Trip

This past summer, business administration major Ify Ikenga ’24 was one of 18 students who studied abroad in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, through the faculty-led Trinity in Vietnam program. Over the course of five weeks, Ikenga dived deep into Vietnam’s rich history, culture, society, and delicious food while participating in a hands-on internship.

“Vietnam was transformational,” Ikenga says. “It opened my eyes to not only Vietnamese history and heritage but also learning more about my place in the world and how I can use my platform to help change other people’s lives.”

When they weren't working for their internship, Ify Ikenga ’24 (left) and his fellow tripmates experienced the vibrant, bustling atmosphere of Ho Chi Minh City.

As an international student from Nigeria, Ikenga knew that studying abroad was something he wanted to do as part of his college experience. During his time at Trinity, Ikenga had already served as the president of the African Student Organization, head social chair of the Black Student Union, and a student-athlete on the men’s track and field team, but he knew that studying abroad would give him a unique chance to “experience another culture on another side of the world.”

At first, Ikenga was a bit hesitant because of the cost, but thanks to Trinity’s robust financial aid resources for studying abroad, he received the support he needed to make his trip possible.

“Trinity really does a great job of making [studying abroad] accessible to every student on this campus,” Ikenga says. “The fact that we can receive funding for trips like this is such an amazing experience.”

The summer Trinity in Vietnam program proved to be a great opportunity for a busy student like Ikenga to make studying abroad possible while also receiving class credit. During his time in Vietnam, Ikenga interned with a software development company, helping them expand by doing business development and helping him gain real-world career experience while earning four upper-division credit hours.

“One of the really interesting things about studying abroad is it forces you to get outside of your comfort zone,” Ikenga says. “I really feel like that’s the best way to grow as a person.”

What to see more from the Summer 2024 Trinity in Vietnam trip? Watch this video to experience Vietnam's bustling atmosphere firsthand and to hear from Ikenga and Nelson Rose '25 about how they made the most of their time abroad.