Panama Summer High School Leadership Program

Without a doubt one of the most powerful experiences of my life. I was nervous joining the program at first, but because of all of its praise I decided to commit and I’m so grateful I did. Global Glimpse does an incredible job at pushing glimpses out of their comfort zones so they may grow but also creates a really fun experience overall - all of this while getting to see the world and meet new people.

Something very notable is that the program is very authentic. They create a perfect balance of work and fun to make a worthwhile experience something you can actually enjoy. They speak a lot about being outside of your comfort zone and because of all of their encouragement (from home staff members, staff in Panama, zoom meetings, etc…) I was willing to take that extra step. I found that coming back from the program I am now more willing to work with others and come up with genuine solutions to problems. It has greatly lessened my fear of making my voice heard and now I want to do what I can to lead and make a positive difference around me. I seek out opportunity to be a leader rather than avoid it.

All of that happened practically under my nose though because I was having a blast the whole time. I got to see a place I’ve never been to before, eat new foods, see great views of the land and meet amazing new people. Your peers are cooperative and genuinely want to connect with you, and the staff members are some of the most supportive people I’ve ever met in my life. I was having so much fun that I was almost SAD to not wake up at 6 AM cuz that would mean my day wouldn’t feel as long.

Personally the most impactful part of the whole trip for me was community day (even though going to the beach with all my new friends was awesome). We got to go into a community I likely would have never otherwise known and speak to their members and see what their life is like. I love practicing languages so this opportunity definitely has a space in my heart specifically but other than that I learned how inviting and constructive everyone in their community is. Everyone knows each other and they work together to complete projects for the benefit of the town (i.e. a bridge crossing a stream). It increased my scope of the world and now encourages me to speak to others around me and see how other communities may be different from my own.

Of course I need to talk about the Community Action Project as well. We all met up with the leaders of a community (a primary school) and worked together to discover a way to improve their community as a whole. We ended up deciding upon constructing a recycling center nearby the basketball court of the school. Despite the fear I had for it, I ended loving doing my part in working for the improvement of this community and am proud of the piece of myself that I added to the project. It built my sense of empathy and it made me think what I could do at home to make MY community a better place. I’m so grateful for the work that we all did and I really believe it’s helped the lives of the kids at the school.

Some tips that I’d leave:
Definitely bring an alarm clock - You don’t have your phones (scary at first but I ended up loving it) and you’ll want to control when you wake up.

Bring a journal - you have so many experiences you don’t wanna miss the little ones

Lots and lots of water. - Panama is a hot place it’s practically on the equator. Your body will be adjusting and if you don’t want to be in bed sick while all your friends are trying plantains and pineapple juice while building a recycling center for a primary school.

Overall global glimpse has permanently impacted my life in the best way possible and it is something I will never forget. It expanded who I am as a person in ways I didn’t even know were possible and it was probably the most fun experience of my life. I CANNOT stress enough how much I recommend this trip. If you’ve been on the fence about it, I sincerely hope this has possibly pushed you over the edge.

This was truly the experience of a lifetime. Global Glimpse offers so many opportunities, scholarships, personal growth, and so much more, but what it really gave me was a deeper understanding of myself and the world. My two weeks in Las Tablas, Panama, from August 1st to 14th, were nothing short of incredible. Yes, there were some tough moments, but isn’t that what makes a journey meaningful? It’s how we grow, how we learn to overcome those small challenges, and how we evolve into stronger versions of ourselves.

Global Glimpse helped us see the world through a different lens. We didn’t just learn about local workers, we walked in their shoes, feeling their struggles firsthand. There was a woman who stood out to me, a true example of resilience. She built her yarn business from scratch, having never had the privilege of going to school like most of us. Her dedication to providing for her daughter despite the odds reminded me of what true strength looks like. That’s the kind of story that stays with you.

And then there was the work. When they said we’d be “working as locals,” I thought I knew what that meant, but I didn’t, until I was waking up at dawn to plant trees under the hot sun. For three days straight, we climbed what felt like mountains, planting nearly 3,000 trees for a reforestation project. It wasn’t easy. It was sweaty, dirty, and exhausting, but every drop of sweat was worth it when we reached the top and took in the breathtaking view. We came together as a community, pushing ourselves to the limit, and I can proudly say, *WE DID THAT*. We made a real, lasting difference.

Global Glimpse pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible. I met people from all walks of life, and we slowly built a bond that’s still strong to this day. We learned about each other’s cultures, habits, and values, realizing that our differences were what made us connect on a deeper level. We’ve even kept our group chat going, a reminder of the friendships we made and the memories we’ll carry forever.

Global Glimpse offers more than just a trip, it’s an opportunity to discover who you truly are, both in the short and long term. But the real question is, are you ready to take that leap like I did? I’m so glad I took the risk, even though I’m not usually one to step out of my comfort zone. Now, I know who I am, a person capable of hard work, of making a difference, of connecting with others in a real and meaningful way.

If you’re looking for a way to find yourself, to challenge yourself, and to make an impact, say yes to Global Glimpse. It’s the best decision I ever made, and it might just be yours too.

I went to Panama for two weeks and it was a blast. I got to meet people who were the same age and I really made some good friendships there. It was a great way to spend the summer and really see what the world was like outside of America. If you get the chance to go with Global Glimpse, I would say to do it. While the idea of staying in a foreign country may seem daunting, you'll really enjoy your time there and you'll always be doing something everyday so it won't feel like you're doing nothing.

Hi, my name is Mikaela and I am a 17-year-old incoming high school senior. Traveling with Global Glimpse to Panama was truly such an unforgettable experience. Going into the trip, I did not have any set expectations and while I knew it would be a valuable experience, I never expected it to impact me in the way it did. It was so incredible to intentionally experience a new country's culture, history, and biodiversity. The most prominent difference between traveling on one's own and with an organization such as Global Glimpse is that with Global Glimpse, forming a global perspective and exploring the different foundations that keep a country afloat (like the locals, the small towns, and the nonprofit organizations) is at the forefront of the trip. As someone who has traveled internationally before, my trip to Panama was so distinct from my other experiences, which is something I did not entirely expect. I felt like I was intentionally seeking out and learning about unique perspectives from the people we interacted with on our field trips. Additionally, not having access to my phone made bonding with my fellow glimpsers and leaders easier and all the more fun. I think it allowed us to form long-lasting friendships with each other that would not have been possible otherwise. Don't let the no phones scare you away!! Overall, forming friendships, having conversations with my program coordinators, and experiencing Panama up close created such a memorable experience! My advice to future glimpsers would be to go into the program with an open mind because that is what allowed me to experience it to the fullest!

Overall the trip was fun and interesting because everything we did was something we’ve never done and also the people were fun to be with and the trip overall was such a blast because the team leaders were great and the people were what made the trip more enjoyable because you get to make friends with people that you’ve never thought you’d be friends with and by just that the panama trip made my whole 2 weeks the best weeks ever and also the people we met on the activities we did they were always amazing and super nice to us and helped us if we ever needed help and I wish I could go back one day to panama with everyone that went and just have a good time again because it was so fun the bonding time and the times we’ve had were so happy and fun that this trip is worth going too

My 2024 Global Glimpse trip to Panama Las Tablas was a fantastic and life-changing experience! I was able to learn new and interesting things about a place that I had no prior knowledge about. Of course, I was worried and scared because I had never left the country, let alone California, in my life, but I'm pleased I seized the opportunity when it presented itself, and I don't regret it. Global Glimpse was a wonderful experience for me to step out of my comfort zone and truly comprehend what it means to be a leader. Participating in Global Glimpse also helped me develop new and fantastic friendships with other kids who had a similar background to me in my area. During my journey, I was able to learn about what other countries are struggling with and i’m extremely glad i was there to help make a change in Panama by helping an Organization named “ Pro Eco Azuero “ plants 4,200 trees within 3 days to help the spider monkeys that are nearly Extinct.

I feel so fortunate to be able to go on such a great trip, and I have made great lifelong connections with other kids my age and who live near me. It was also such a fun way to spend my summer!! I would definitely recommend going with Global Glimpse they are a wonderful organization that are amazing at accommodating young travelers such as myself. Some things we did while in country was milk goats and trying some delicious goat ice cream the farm made, we also saw the Panama Canal, learned about the bioculture there along with their growing population of sea turtles too!

Hello, my name is Keiry and I participated on a Global Glimpse trip to Panama. As someone who has never traveled far from home especially without my family, I was very nervous at the beginning. Arriving at Panama is one of the best experiences I have, being somewhere new in which I have no perspective of. Throughout my trip, I met many new people and made wonderful connections. The staff was welcoming and took care of us very well through our stay there. We got to learn about Panama's past and what makes them unique, helping us gain our own perspective of Panama. I learned many things like being more independent for myself and going out of my comfort zone in order to join activities and enjoy them. This is an experience I will always remember.