This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
Do you remember the first time you traveled outside your neighborhood, city or state? For those of us who have been fortunate to grow up in comfortable environments travel may seem like a luxury. However, for curious, intelligent, motivated young people travel can change their life trajectory!
Many of my students have never had the opportunity to travel outside the state of Missouri.
As such, many of them have never truly been pushed out of their comfort zones, nor have they had the opportunity to experience other cultures and ways of life. Travel offers students the opportunity to do just these things! The 6 students that have been selected for this trip have risen above their challenging economic and home environments. They are dedicated to achieving their dreams though hard work academically, and excellent behavior. I cannot imagine a more deserving group of young people and I know that they will have the experience of a lifetime on this trip and they will never forget the experiences they have in Costa Rica!
My Project
Traveling encourages young people to expand their horizons, confront their stereotypes, to grow as individuals, to learn independence, to practice their Spanish skills, and so much more. Education First Tours, the company we are using to plan this trip has found that 92% of students who participate in their tours feel more comfortable in new and different cultural settings, nearly every student who has participated in the past has earned at least a bachelor's degree or higher, nearly half maintain college GPAs between 3.5 and 4.0, and 4 our of 5 say they are better communicators as a result of their experience.
On this trip students will have the opportunity to see the ocean (a first for many of them), to hike in the rainforest, to look down into the heart of an active volcano. They will eat Costa Rican food, meet Costa Rican people and speak Spanish in authentic settings. Also, they will learn to manage their money, to get around a new city and to take responsibility for themselves.
When I was in high school I traveled abroad for the first time.
Unfortunately, my students' financial situation largely excludes them from these experiences. I know, first hand, how travel changed my life, it taught me to be more accepting of differences, to live life to the fullest, to help those in need and so much more. My students deserve to have these same types of experiences! Please help them expand their horizons!
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Tamborelli and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.