It’s a new month, and that means it’s time to introduce March’s Student of the Month! Megan O’B. from British Columbia is travelling with her teacher and classmates to Costa Rica this month, and after fundraising, shopping, and other preparations, her excitement is sky-high. Read more about her preparations below!
Written by Megan O’B. from British Columbia
March 3, 2020
Hello, my name is Megan O’B. I am from Northern British Columbia, Canada. Two years ago, my friends and I saw a WorldStrides Explorica travel opportunity poster to travel to Costa Rica [in our school hallway]. We thought it would be an amazing experience, so we signed up. It did not even feel real [at the time].
Preparation for the trip started with meetings discussing the trip, fundraising ideas, and conversations among each other. Through strategic planning, my classmates and I have prepared for our trip through various fundraisers. Our fundraising has included making reusable beeswax wrappers (to replace plastic wrap), bottle drives, […] being a food vendor at midnight madness (a local shopping event), cleaning up after a rodeo dance [as well as] our high school’s graduation, a road garbage cleanup, […] a dessert auction, […] by participating in a Christmas craft fair, [and more]. Overall, the group has fundraised over $12,000. We appreciate all of our supporters, the efforts of students, parents, and the organizers of fundraising events.
Personally, preparing for the trip traditionally started with “what am I going to wear?” After ordering six swimsuits online, [and] a notebook to journal about each day, I felt more prepared for the trip. I have decorated pages with the title of places we will be visiting and the activities we will be doing, and I will write about each day at the end of each day.
“I am passionate about the environment… Being able to receive
primary knowledge and to experience biodiversity [firsthand]
inspires me to make a change”
When I received the flight schedule and saw that we must be at the airport at 4:30 am, I thought “Why even [try to] sleep?”, [knowing] I will be too eager to sleep before the journey ahead. My mind constantly goes to the thought of watching the sunrise on the plane and experiencing the reality of the trip. I am most excited about visiting the Caribbean Conservation Cooperation Museum […] because I am passionate about the environment and seeing awareness and protection for sea turtles for future generations. Being able to receive primary knowledge and to experience biodiversity [firsthand] inspires me to make a change and be educated about other countries’ values.
I am grateful for the opportunity to travel with WorldStrides Explorica to learn and experience different cultures and be able to learn about myself. I value diversity and cannot wait to experience various cultures and be a part of the practice. This will be my first time travelling out of the county, as it will be many classmates’ first time travelling out of the country. With each day approaching closer to departure, it feels unreal to be a part of such an advanced program.
“It is so important to learn to be comfortable
with being uncomfortable”
I believe the biggest challenge of the trip will be independence. Everyone will be learning how to be responsible for themselves, their belongings, and having to be adaptable to sharing their space with peers. It is so important to learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and learning how to prepare for different responsibilities, and how to approach them to prepare for adulthood. Experiencing different parts of the world comes with great gratitude to be active in the culture, belief, and learning new ways of living with the greatest of respect… I have great faith that everyone who is a part of this group will be contributing their best attributes to the experience of the program.
Teachers, do you have an exceptional student who has a way with words? Or an articulate student with an interest in writing? Maybe a reflective student who was bitten by the travel bug and has plenty of amazing adventures to share? Reach out to your travel consultant or to Rachel Baitz, Marketing Coordinator at Rachel.Baitz@explorica.com for more info on how they can be featured as our next Student of the Month!
Be sure to check back here next month for another student’s amazing adventure!