Panama Summer High School Leadership Program

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.

As a student, traveling with Global Glimpse was not only a great way to experience new cultures and explore new places, but also a valuable learning opportunity. The program took me to a completely new environment, allowing me to immerse myself in a different culture and engage with local communities in a meaningful way. What stood out to me about Global Glimpse was how engaging and fulfilling the activities were. Being a student in high school with a small agenda I don't think I would have had the chance to milk goats, plant trees, paint a mural, go behind the scenes in a bakery, visit prominent monuments or meet a famous costume designer if it wasn't for my participation with Global Glimpse.

Personal Impact:
One of the most valuable aspects of my Global Glimpse experience was the opportunity to interact with people from different backgrounds and learn from their unique perspectives. Being able to connect with locals, learn their stories, or even just conversate with them at the local shops, was what impacted me the most. These conversations helped me view life from a different perspective and opened my mind to new ideas.
Through engaging activities such as nightly meetings, seminars, and field trips, the students and staff were also able to learn from each other's similarities and differences to ignite long lasting friendships.

Highlight:
The days where we visited local businesses and learned the aspects of running a business in Las Tablas, were some of my favorite moments. On our "working like a local" day, we visited La Finca El Espinal, a goat farm in Las Tablas. Here the owner let us feed and milk his goats, along with fertilize the big goat's food. We spent most the day here asking question, listening to the owner speak, eating goat ice-cream and helping out at the farm. What truly inspires me was his story of the upbringing of his business, how small it was when he started and how much it has grown, this inspires me to pursue any aspirations I have in life with passion and hard work.

Our Impact:
Through collaborative projects we were able to support the local community in multiple ways. Three days of our trip were dedicated to our “CAP” (Community Action Project). This time was spent executing project(s), designed by the students to help a particular organization, chosen by Global Glimpse. For my trip, the non-profit organization we contributed to was Nutre Hogar, a recovery center for malnourished kids. Here, we organized and executed three projects, tree-planting, Netting, and mural painting, which all created sustainable impacts to Nutre Hogar's facility, children, staff, and way of living.

Balanced Schedule:
In addition to visiting many guest speakers, attending program seminars, and required mealtime, there was always a balance between these structured activities and the amount of free time we had on hand. This free time was necessary because it gave students the opportunity to rest, enjoy the accommodation, or even explore the town for a few hours. Likewise, allowing us to demonstrate our responsibility and skills as leaders, along with giving us the chance to bond with the other Glimpsers on our trip.

Inspired:
Before my trip, I had very little knowledge of what I wanted to do with my future, let alone after high school. However, experiencing life at a different angle for two weeks, has sparked new ideas of potential career pathways for me to pursue in the future. Additionally, Global Glimpse has developed a deep passion in me to travel abroad and even dedicate more time to studying Spanish.

Space for improvement:
I feel as time went on, us Glimpsers found ourselves forming into cliques, and stuck with those same people for the duration of the trip. As a result, we missed the opportunity to get to know everyone during our trip. I believe doing more structured group activities or icebreakers will improve how we interact with each other and separate from those cliques.

This experience is the highlight of my High School career, and I would recommend this opportunity to any student willing to step out of their comfort zone and explore. 😊😊

On this trip to Panama it was very unique. It was not only an opportunity to visit a new country but also to learn and improve on myself as well. From start to end I had tons of fun while expanding my leadership skills, which could not have been possible without the support I received from my fellow peers and global glimpse leaders. It is an opportunity that I encourage anyone to take if presented the chance. Do not be discouraged by finance because there are many people that are willing to help you reach the financial help you may need.

This was a life-changing experience. It was a time of unforgettable memories and many firsts. This trip allowed me to make very strong relationships with those in my delegation - making friendship bracelets, playing card games like Egyptian War and Uno, and walking around the city to hang out during our free time. This trip also was my first time flying alone without my parents, let alone to another country. So, the freedom and independence this opportunity provided were truly impactful on my growth.

We arrived at the San Francisco airport at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 16th, getting ready to check in for our flight at 12:30 a.m. As more people settled in, we had our first Global Glimpse headcount. It was a point of realization that this experience abroad to Panama, what I've been looking forward to all year, had just started. I was nervous, but I was mainly excited. As we lined up in headcount order to check-in bags, one of the Global Glimpse leaders and the first seven Glimpsers, me included, unfortunately, had problems with our tickets. While the rest of the group continued with the check-in process, we were unaware of what happened to our tickets and were soon left behind.

We missed our flight and got another one scheduled five hours later! However, it was a blessing in disguise. While it was unexpected and not ideal, it was a mini ice-breaker that allowed us to bond and get to know each other a little better. We were getting a bit hungry/thirsty, but my parents, fortunately still waiting at the airport, got us food/drinks from McDonald's. Waiting the next three hours at the airport before we could check-in, we colored a coloring book, played Heads Up, and even played Uno. It truly made the time fly by and was a highlight of my trip. We eventually reunited with the rest of the group at the Panama City Airport, ready for our adventure.

Panama is such a beautiful place. Even with the humidity, heat, and mosquitoes, it was so pleasant to see all the greenery from the mountains and nature. Whether it was when we explored the city on our walks or traveled on the bus, it was really nice getting the chance to appreciate the scenic backgrounds without my phone. I was able to cherish the moments and events right in front of me.

We spent most of our nights at Hotel Esperanza, which was an accommodation beyond what I imagined. I remember dropping my jaw the first time I stepped into my room. Each room consisted of about two to four people, but we all had our own beds, AC, and a ton of space. There were times when we didn't have water in our rooms - it's not uncommon to run out of running water in the city - but we were lucky with our accommodation compared to the others. However, I think living in a hotel with the amount of space and AC made me feel more like a tourist than someone trying to experience the lifestyle in Panama.

We had a personal food provider named Angie, who owned her restaurant called La Bruja. She would provide us food every meal, serving us various delicious foods - tacos, chicken, pork, pancakes, and even chow mein - with our daily side of salad, plantains, and juice/oat milk to drink. Everyone loved her cooking and created a strong bond. The last day was emotional, as it was really hard to say goodbye.

During our time in Panama, we explored the city, learned about the biocultural diversity, learned about water testing, worked at a local farm (Finca Pamel), met families from the community, painted doors at this school (Escuela Paris de Parita) for our CAP Project, and saw the Panama Canal. I had fun throughout the trip, but I mostly enjoyed my time at Finca Pamel and Escuela Paris.

During our time at the farm, we learned various agricultural tasks done in the area. We learned how to shovel dirt/rocks, plant beans/cucumber seeds, clean goat pens, and even milk a cow. The animals were super cute, especially Tuki Tuki, a donkey they got in December named after a popular Christmas carol called "Mi Burrito Sabanero". A lot of us were sweating, covered in dirt, and exhausted from the day, but I truly loved the collaboration and hard work we put in as a group.

For our CAP Project, we collaborated with Escuela Paris to help Principle Erika create a better learning environment for the students. They are currently struggling to find more students and teachers, so we discussed ideas to take action. We had three tasks we wanted to finish - paint the classroom doors with different colors/designs, paint the columns with their school values, and paint the floors with games like hopscotch. We misjudged the amount of time we had, so we unfortunately could only finish the doors.

But, seeing the kids pass us by with smiles and the teachers with proud expressions made me feel accomplished. While there was a language barrier that hindered my opportunity to get to know the students/staff, I was happy I was making a difference for the people at the school.

To sum it up, I had such a great experience. Being exposed to a new environment, learning more about the Panamanian lifestyle, and meeting/bonding with amazing people from my delegation by playing cards, making friendship bracelets, and going out during our free time. I made so many memories I'll never forget.

I've grown a lot and enhanced my confidence in collaborating with other young leaders like me. I learned the importance of inclusiveness, the power of diverse perspectives, and the impact of collaboration. I will definitely use what I learned in the future on other team projects like these.

Seeing the differences in lifestyle and resources, I changed my perspective on appreciation and happiness as I compared their living with mine. As mentioned in one of our nightly meetings, we Americans tend to always want more, whether it's money, awards, or other needs (mentioned by one of the Glimpsers in my delegation). Listening and meeting our guest speakers, they all seemed happy and content which was truly impactful. While some have to grow their own food or wake up at 5 a.m. every morning to get to school, they all appreciate what they already have. It's made me more aware of my blessings and appreciative of what's right in front of me, rather than always longing for something I don't have.

These two weeks were truly unforgettable, getting the chance to learn more about myself and the life around me. Thank you to Global Glimpse, my parents, my chemistry teacher, my fellow Glimpsers, my GGLs, my PCs, my food/accommodation providers, and the many others I've met along the way who gave me this opportunity and helped me grow!

I wish this trip didn’t end. When I first started high school, I wanted to be the best version of myself. I can’t say I was the best freshman. It was a chaotic year, but through that chaos, I discovered something important about myself: I loved leading people. I began my freshman year as vice president of the school anime club. While that may not seem significant, it was a huge milestone for me. Alongside a sophomore, we revived and rebuilt the club. That’s where my story began.

I joined more organizations than I initially wanted to, but I have no regrets. I was obsessed with being a people-pleaser and making my mother happy. She was a single mother, often independent, and always encouraged my brother and me to do well in school. Despite her challenges, she pushed us to excel academically. Now, as a rising senior, I’m involved in 15 organizations, holding leadership positions in five, including being president of one and student chair of two. I also have two recognitions, one from the state and one from my theater department.

Despite these accomplishments, I always felt it wasn’t enough. I wanted more from my leadership experiences. Then, I discovered Global Glimpse. Nominated by my Director of Equity and Inclusion, I’ll cut to the chase. This turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. It was exactly what I needed—not just fun, but an affordable experience that broadened my perspective.

The idea of having no phone for two weeks or being away from my parents was daunting. However, everyone on the trip was in the same situation: no phone, no parents, and closest friends at home. This trip was incredibly valuable, teaching life lessons and providing a global perspective I couldn’t gain in the US. The struggles I witnessed were real, not just media portrayals.

I want every student to experience something like this, though I know it’s not possible for all. However, students should at least know that Global Glimpse exists. I made many friends, not just among fellow students, but with the leaders too. This experience was truly amazing, and I loved every moment of it. If your school offers this program, I highly encourage you to try it. Thank you, Global Glimpse, for this incredible opportunity, and thank you to my school for making it possible. I wish I could have stayed longer. Panama was amazing.