EUROPEAN EPIPHANY:
People say hold on tight, high school flies by, and I have always thought that was the most cliché thing I had ever heard. But it is so incredibly accurate! Yes, some days went slow, but overall this time flew by. Can the year please slow down? I already had my last Fall Spirit Day.
Now, I am an incredibly sappy person, and I will probably say this ALL year, but I am obsessed with Villa and so grateful for this high school decision. I remember the stress of picking a high school, and now I can only hope to have the great options for my future college. Now, I loved Villa when I left after Junior Year, but I had quite the summer with my fellow classmates that emphasized why. Yes, I am going to tell you about Villa taking Europe: Summer 2013!
For 10 days this past summer, rising Juniors and Seniors, with six fabulous teacher chaperones, went to France, Switzerland, and Germany (oh, and Lichtenstein). We climbed Mount Pilatus, saw the Eiffel Tower glitter in the moonlight, climbed every possible church tower, biked through Germany, and I successfully ordered crêpes for all my friends. This was truly life-changing. Exploring the world, which is a beautiful place, with some of my best friends was priceless.
I have come to realize that adventure and exploring new places is a part of me that I want to develop throughout college and my future career. I didn’t plan to have a life-altering experience last summer (this sounds so dramatic, but it's true), but it did happen, thanks to Villa. If Villa did not have the JET: Jems Educational Travel Club, I would have never known what was in store. Yes, I had traveled a few places before this summer, but this time, I really saw my education coming to use. I got to practice a language I had been taking, and see history come to life. The thought of not being a part of the coming summer’s trip to the French countryside, Spain, and Italy is sad, but I’m grateful for the experience, memories, and the fact that maybe other students will also have a life epiphany like I did.
- Catherine Messina '14
More photos below!
People say hold on tight, high school flies by, and I have always thought that was the most cliché thing I had ever heard. But it is so incredibly accurate! Yes, some days went slow, but overall this time flew by. Can the year please slow down? I already had my last Fall Spirit Day.
Now, I am an incredibly sappy person, and I will probably say this ALL year, but I am obsessed with Villa and so grateful for this high school decision. I remember the stress of picking a high school, and now I can only hope to have the great options for my future college. Now, I loved Villa when I left after Junior Year, but I had quite the summer with my fellow classmates that emphasized why. Yes, I am going to tell you about Villa taking Europe: Summer 2013!
For 10 days this past summer, rising Juniors and Seniors, with six fabulous teacher chaperones, went to France, Switzerland, and Germany (oh, and Lichtenstein). We climbed Mount Pilatus, saw the Eiffel Tower glitter in the moonlight, climbed every possible church tower, biked through Germany, and I successfully ordered crêpes for all my friends. This was truly life-changing. Exploring the world, which is a beautiful place, with some of my best friends was priceless.
I have come to realize that adventure and exploring new places is a part of me that I want to develop throughout college and my future career. I didn’t plan to have a life-altering experience last summer (this sounds so dramatic, but it's true), but it did happen, thanks to Villa. If Villa did not have the JET: Jems Educational Travel Club, I would have never known what was in store. Yes, I had traveled a few places before this summer, but this time, I really saw my education coming to use. I got to practice a language I had been taking, and see history come to life. The thought of not being a part of the coming summer’s trip to the French countryside, Spain, and Italy is sad, but I’m grateful for the experience, memories, and the fact that maybe other students will also have a life epiphany like I did.
- Catherine Messina '14
More photos below!