This past June, I had the honor of being one of six chaperones on a Baltic Sea cruise with nineteen Franklin Academy students and six alumni. Although It was my fourth trip abroad with our students over the last twenty years, it was the very first time we had invited our alumni to join us. It proved to be a wonderful success for us all! One parent of a recent alumnus wrote, “I just wanted to thank you for providing such an amazing experience for [my son].” The parent of a current student shared that having the alumni on the trip was beneficial for her son because the alumni were excellent role models, inclusive, and encouraging.
After chaperoning several student trips for Franklin Academy and two of my previous schools, I have experienced the unique opportunities for growth and enrichment with many students that travel provides. Moreover, Franklin Academy’s students and alumni are always so impressive. The questions they ask on tours are thoughtful and pertinent. They listen respectfully to our guides and share valuable insights. Our travelers have been complimented by every tour guide that has led one of my trips.
Student Travel provides unique opportunities for growth and enrichment, as they expose young adults to diverse cultures, languages, and environments. By stepping outside their comfort zones, they learn about different lifestyles and values, which challenge preconceived notions and foster open-mindedness. Navigating new settings can enhance problem-solving skills and boost confidence as they learn to overcome challenges like language barriers or unfamiliar customs, while the sensory experiences of different landscapes, foods, and social interactions can also stimulate their cognitive and emotional development and nurture greater adaptability and resilience.
This expanded worldview encourages them to reflect on their own beliefs and assumptions, often leading to greater self-awareness and personal growth. Additionally, encountering diverse ways of living and thinking can inspire creativity and problem-solving, as young adults learn to appreciate multiple perspectives. As our alumni parent wrote:
There are so many things he is processing from the experience! What he liked or didn’t like, that he didn’t have anxiety during travel which surprised him, the countries he enjoyed and ones he would like to explore more, and how he navigated doing things out of his comfort zone. Although it wasn’t perfect it was in some ways better to have been that way. He now knows he can do it!!
Franklin Academy embraces travel study as an integral part of our program because it offers young adults the powerful gift of perspective, allowing them to see the world—and their place in it—from a broader and more informed viewpoint.
