Immersive Studying in Puerto Rico: A Journey of Service and Discovery
This Isn’t Only a Journey Recap
If you happen to’ve been following my social media feed, you recognize I not too long ago took an immersive studying journey to Puerto Rico with 10 youngsters, a colleague, and two guides from an exterior group named World Management College.
Someplace in these posts, I additionally shared a bit about the place I see this impartial ardour undertaking of mine going. So, bear with me—this text could be all over, however I promise, it’ll come collectively.
Fast Backstory
I received my undergrad diploma in Felony Investigation earlier than realizing I had zero need to spend my life in a area that’s so heavy and mentally draining. In my quest to depart Boston, I landed in New Jersey with a job at a then impartial college in Newark, which has since been transformed right into a constitution college. I spent 9 unbelievable years there, leveling up and diving deep into the world of impartial faculties throughout the Northeast. 5 years in, I used to be so into schooling that I made a decision to go for my Grasp’s diploma in Training Management, Administration and Coverage at Seton Corridor College. These two years positively put a dent in my journey life, however I made it by way of, lol.
That first Ok-8 impartial college launched me to boarding faculties—their mission on the time was to get underprivileged college students from Newark into non-public boarding and day establishments to offer them alternatives they in any other case wouldn’t have. Now, I do know when individuals hear “boarding college,” they image rich mother and father who simply wish to rid themselves of the duty of elevating teenagers. They might additionally envision a bunch of wealthy children in blazers consuming caviar at lunch. And yeah, some faculties would possibly match that stereotype (minus the caviar, lol), however let me inform you—there are many down-to-earth boarding faculties crammed with common, sneaker-wearing, sweatpants-loving teensters (as I prefer to name them), a lot of whom are literally – look ahead to it – college students of shade! Whereas it definitely wasn’t the case earlier than, we’re seeing a rise within the quantity of Black and brown college students at these faculties.
The Execs and Cons of Sending a Pupil to Boarding College
I received’t go too deep into the small print, however listed here are some key perks of boarding college life from my perspective:
- Early publicity to numerous cultures
- Extra journey and experiential studying alternatives
- Elevated independence and self-awareness
- Stronger trainer connections and grownup assist
- Earlier post-secondary planning
- A greater diversity of sports activities and extracurriculars
If you happen to’re involved in studying extra, I strongly encourage you to learn this report from TABS (The Affiliation of Boarding Colleges) and CAIS CT (Connecticut Affiliation of Unbiased Colleges) entitled College Life in Focus: The Boarding Benefit
I’m not gon’ lie… the COST of sending a pupil to boarding college might be difficult for many individuals. Actual discuss, a few of these faculties cost multiple 12 months of faculty tuition! However… they’re price each penny while you select the appropriate match in your youngster. I might be remiss if I forgot to say that there ARE monetary help alternatives obtainable at most of those establishments …the place there’s a will there’s a method!
Why Boarding College Life for Me?
Since I used to be too previous to attend a boarding college when Iearned about them, I figured being employed by one was the subsequent smartest thing. Working at a boarding college had been a dream for fairly a while, nevertheless it didn’t occur till fall 2020. And let’s be trustworthy—that was a really bizarre time to begin, with college students studying remotely, coming again to campus once they thought the coast was clear, after which BOOM… digital courses but once more!
It wasn’t till July 2024, once I formally grew to become a residential school member (and introduced my household alongside for the journey), that I actually received the expertise I’d at all times imagined. Honey! I’m not mad on the perks! (P.s. I’m glad to speak extra about this in one other article). After driving one-hour every method for 4 years, my three-minute stroll to work has been a dream. In fact, there are additional obligations on prime of my admin duties, however balancing them with my private obligations hasn’t been as tedious as I’d feared. Fortunately, it pays to do your homework earlier than leaping into such a dedication.
Why Puerto Rico?
Alright, let’s discuss this Puerto Rico journey. At our college, now we have a worldwide justice middle that organizes trade packages and different hands-on studying experiences. Since now we have a big worldwide pupil inhabitants, I additionally work inside this middle because the liaison for that inhabitants of scholars (on prime of my duties as Director of Tutorial Companies). For the previous three years, my wonderful colleague has been spearheading a service-learning journey to Puerto Rico in partnership with World Management College.
This journey is open to all college students by way of an software course of, and school can put their names within the hat in the event that they want to go. You understand I wasted no time leaping on that record! As a journey lover, this was a no brainer. The neighborhood service facet drew me in, and I additionally needed to see how this system labored from the within. Plus, I genuinely don’t thoughts being round teenagers for prolonged durations—I do know, bizarre, proper? Lol.
The Function
Our journey targeted on three Sustainable Growth Targets (SDGs):
- Sustainable cities and communities
- Local weather motion
- Life beneath water
Fundamental Deets?
The place did we keep? For many of the journey, we stayed at APRODEC, an deserted army base in Ceiba that’s being repurposed for sustainability efforts. Dwelling situations had been easy—no sizzling water, tremendous brief showers, and no rest room paper down the drains (except you went twosies, lol). APRODEC has huge plans for the longer term, however with out volunteers like us, reaching their targets shall be powerful.
What did we eat? We had the pleasure of getting a personal chef, Ingrid, who cooked on-site at APRODEC. Shoutout to her for throwing down within the kitchen—her meals jogged my memory of residence. By the point we sat all the way down to eat, we had been famished, and pickiness was NOT an choice. Fortunately, Ingrid’s abilities received us over from the very first meal. Dishes I wouldn’t usually go for? Devoured. Seconds? Completely.
How did we get round? World Management College supplied shuttles as wanted. By day three, we lucked out and received Ingrid’s brother, Rafa, as our driver for the remainder of the journey.
What Did We Do?
The primary few days had been spent doing volunteer work and academic actions at APRODEC. We toured the ability, discovered about its historical past, and received a glimpse of its strategic plans. We discovered how the U.S. and different colonizers made life tougher for Puerto Rico’s native individuals. These classes made me unhappy and actually received me fired up about this new enterprise of mine that’s slowly coming collectively.
Studying Taino phrases, seeing historic petroglyphs and discovering the deep Taino connections between Puerto Rico and my residence, the Turks and Caicos Islands – thoughts blown!
Enjoyable truth: When 9/11 occurred, this was the ability the place they took then-President George W. Bush. Strolling by way of the previous conflict rooms, bunkers, and signage—simply left as they had been—was surreal. At some point, the place was absolutely operational, and the subsequent? Utterly deserted. (Insert side-eye.)
As for our work:
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We scrubbed deserted stairwells to prep them for future friends.
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Our college students knocked down a wall in preparation for APRODEC’s upcoming restaurant.
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We helped restore a uncared for tree undertaking—APRODEC had planted over 40 bushes earlier than COVID, however with out maintenance, they grew to become overgrown. We recognized child bushes, cleared weeds, and cleaned up their environment to assist them thrive. It was a LOT of labor. The solar was sunning actual unhealthy, so we needed to lower it brief for the kids’ sake. Low-key? I want we had another hands-on workday. It felt good to contribute.
Past the Volunteer Work
I do know this text is already a bit prolonged, so let me break down the gems of this journey for you in a pleasant little package deal:
As soon as our handbook labor wrapped up, we moved on to extra touristy—however nonetheless instructional—actions:
- A Bomba dance class that confirmed us how dance generally is a complete dialog.
- Exploring El Yunque Nationwide Rainforest, as a result of no Puerto Rico journey is full with out it.
- Night time kayaking to witness the magic of bioluminescence—pure science meets marvel.
- Testing the unbelievable work being completed on the Heart for Analysis and Restoration of Marine Organisms (CIROM).
- Visiting Samuel Lind’s residence and artwork studio was an expertise that touched my inventive soul in methods I wasn’t prepared for. My colleague guessed I’d find it irresistible, however I wasn’t ready for simply how a lot. I’m absolutely obsessed together with his work and have unlocked a brand new favourite artist, no query. Seems, one of many prints I bought continues to be a piece in progress and the primary in a brand new sequence he’s launching. At some point, I WILL carry a kind of huge canvases residence.
- Lastly attempting (and making) mofongo! Hear, I’ve been dodging this dish for years, however getting hands-on with the cooking course of, listening to the historical past, and absolutely immersing myself within the expertise? Recreation-changer. We paired it with pollo guisado and rice, and whew—simply know I’ll be recreating that meal within the very close to future. Thanks Chef Nivia!
Ultimate Ideas
Puerto Rico did one thing to my spirit, and I’m sure our college students can say the identical. As I shared in a current college publication “I hoped the scholars would develop nearer and are available away with a stronger sense of independence and confidence. For some, it was their first time touring overseas or being away from household. They didn’t simply meet my expectations—they blew them out of the water. Watching them present up as their full, genuine selves and take management in their very own method was one thing particular. This journey was unforgettable, and I’m past grateful for the expertise.”
The Puerto Rico expertise is only a smidge of what my colleague and I’ve deliberate for each the varsity and our impartial work. I look ahead to sharing extra with you!
Yours in tradition,
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