Ben Ghosh, Spring 2005 alumnus, says his voyage gave him important life skills.
Sailing around the world had a profound effect on Ben Ghosh's personal and professional life. That's why the spring 2005 alumnus and 1963 Society member decided to give back to Semester at Sea.
"I'm getting married next year, and I'll have two groomsmen from my voyage," says Ben, now 33 years old. "I always say I'm closest with friends from Semester at Sea because of those shared experiences."
According to Ben, who now serves as director of lifecycle marketing for the Cambridge-based start-up Butcher Box, his voyage also provided him with the skills he needed to succeed professionally.
"I think the more we see the world, get to know others and engage in meaningful interactions, the better off we'll all be," Ben says. "The wisdom and the skills I gained when I was traveling the world in my early 20s really set me up to be more successful in life."
Now Ben is helping future voyagers learn those same skills by making a planned estate gift to Semester at Sea.
"I committed to contributing at least 1 percent of my estate to Semester at Sea," Ben says. "What seems like very little now will one day make a significant impact on the lives of others."
By establishing a planned gift, Ben is ensuring that future students can apply the same lessons he learned abroad to their own lives. And doing so at a young age means that as Ben's gift grows over time, so will his ability to put others in a similar position to succeed.
"It's a way to give back to a program that has given me and others so much," he says, "and to empower those who wouldn't otherwise have this chance with a tremendous opportunity."
Open Doors of Opportunity
Like Ben Ghosh, you can make a future gift to Semester at Sea to help students pursue their dreams. Contact Planned Giving Team at giving@isevoyages.org and to learn more.