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For many �Ǹ�Թ� students, studying abroad is an opportunity to explore a new culture or academic interest. For two of CU �Ǹ�Թ�’s 2025-2026 student body presidents, international experiences became something more: a defining influence on how they lead, advocate, and connect with the campus community.

Both leaders entered student government with strong ambitions to serve students. Yet each found that stepping outside the United States reshaped their understanding of confidence, communication, and balance in leadership in ways they did not expect. Their experiences abroad did not simply expand their worldviews; they fundamentally changed how they approach leadership at home.

Learning Leadership Beyond Borders

John Masulit, an international affairs major, studied abroad twice in France: first during a two-week Global Seminar in Bordeaux and later during a full semester in Aix-en-Provence. Before boarding his first flight, he had never traveled internationally.

“I was born and raised here in Colorado,” he said. “But as an international affairs major, you obviously want to see the world a little bit and see what’s going on.”

While abroad, John encountered new academic perspectives and cultural approaches that challenged his assumptions about politics, community, and public discourse. One moment that stood out was hearing European professors openly critique their own government. This style of discussion broadened his understanding of the importance of civic engagement.

Equally impactful was the slower pace of life he experienced in southern France, which emphasized relationships and collective well-being. “That sense of community between individuals and between different places is something that I’ve really taken away from my study abroad experience,” he said.

Gianna Guido, a double major in Spanish and political science, studied abroad in Barcelona through a CU Global Seminar program shortly after being elected student body president. Living with a host family immersed her fully in Spanish language and culture, pushing her far beyond classroom learning.

“You are thrown into that,” Gianna said. “You have to learn how to be uncomfortable in a

��new space, and that really changed how I approach leadership.”

During her first weeks abroad, Gianna faced unexpected homesickness while adjusting to a new language, time zone, and daily routine. Sharing those challenges with fellow CU students and her host family helped her reframe the experience as growth rather than struggle.

“Knowing I could overcome being in a completely new environment gave me the confidence to walk into any room,” she said. “If I could do that in another country, why wouldn’t I be able to do it here?”

That confidence now carries into her role representing nearly 39,000 students in conversations with university administrators and policymakers. Both leaders say moments of uncertainty abroad became catalysts for growth, helping them develop resilience essential for leadership roles that often involve ambiguity and high responsibility.

Rethinking Community, Culture and Balance

For both presidents, international experience broadened their understanding of culture, community and belonging: an essential perspective when representing a diverse campus population.

Gianna said one of the most surprising lessons came from Spanish culture’s approach to work-life balance. Accustomed to constant political discussion and a fast-paced schedule, she was struck by how intentionally people separated work from personal time.

“No one wanted to talk about work at dinner,” she said. “That really reshaped how I think about balance.”

The lesson proved valuable when she returned to CU, where student leadership responsibilities can resemble a full-time job. She began intentionally creating boundaries, even encouraging fellow executives to set aside time together that was strictly non-work-related.

“That experience helped me manage stress and understand that stepping away sometimes actually makes you a better leader,” she said.

John experienced a similar shift in perspective, particularly in how he approaches communication and collaboration.

“My study abroad experience was indispensable to the way I conduct myself in this role,” he explained. “Learning about how other cultures interact made me a much better listener.”

Representing thousands of students means recognizing that no single perspective can capture everyone’s needs. Exposure to different cultures helped him move beyond assumptions and approach conversations with greater openness.

“I’m one person, and there are 38,800 students here at CU,” he said. “It’s impossible to get every perspective, but my goal is always to go out and listen to students about what matters to them.”

Becoming Global Citizens

Today, both students see study abroad not simply as an academic opportunity but as preparation for leadership in an increasingly interconnected world.

“We are all global citizens,” John said. “Issues like climate change don’t stop at borders. A global issue needs a global community to respond to it.”

That global mindset now influences how both leaders approach campus initiatives, from improving transparency in student government to advocating for inclusive policies that support diverse student experiences.

Their message to students considering studying abroad is simple: take the leap.

“If you have any thought about studying abroad, you should give it a shot,” John said. “The experience you’re going to get will change your life in one way or another.”

Studying abroad didn’t just expand their worldview, it reshaped how they lead at home. By bringing global perspectives back to �Ǹ�Թ�, they demonstrate how international experiences can strengthen local communities, proving that leadership often begins by stepping beyond familiar borders.

“Even if you’re not officially leading a group, you’re leading yourself every day,” Gianna said. “That in itself is leadership.”

John similarly described study abroad as a formative environment for personal growth.

“It pushes you outside your comfort zone in the best way,” he said. “You learn resilience and adaptability, and those are skills you carry into every leadership role afterward.”

Both leaders now draw on those experiences when working to foster belonging and representation within CU Student Government, advocating for initiatives that reflect a wide range of student experiences.

Congratulations to both Gianna Guido () and John Masulit ( and ) on graduating!��

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