Day 1
Student Trip Blog
Hello students and families! My name is Jessica (she/her) and I am one of your co-leaders to Costa Rica this summer. I am very excited for our trip and am looking forward to getting to know each of you as we travel and explore together.
I have been an educator for almost a decade and currently work at Evanston Township High School. I have also been a teacher at Mansueto High School (part of the Nobel Network), Chicago High School for the Arts, and Hinsdale South. Speaking of Hinsdale, I am a graduate of Hinsdale Central and proud Auntie to two former Red Devils. This fall, I will be returning to the classroom to begin a PhD program at UIC in Educational Policy and Gender and Women’s Studies.
When I’m not in school, I am usually riding my bike or running along the 606, reading historical fiction, experimenting in the kitchen, or spending time with friends and family. I also love speaking Spanish, so if anyone is interested in practicing on our trip, vamanos!
While this will be my first time to Costa Rica, I am no stranger to international travel and navigating unfamiliar situations in foreign places. I have traveled throughout Europe, Scandinavia, Canada, Mexico, and Ecuador.
I came to Global Glimpse upon hearing about it from my nephew, who is a GG alum and, coincidently, went to Turrialba last summer. I saw the positive impact his trip had on him and after reflecting on my own experiences abroad and the lasting effects they had on me, I decided to apply to GG and do my part to pay it forward. International travel is a gateway for empathy-building, developing cultural awareness, and bridging divides. It’s also a tremendous amount of fun!
There is a whole world outside of the communities we live in and it is my hope that your hearts and horizons will be expanded over the 10 days we will be in Costa Rica. Let’s buckle up and enjoy the ride together!
Jessica