Jordana Levine

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Jordana Levine is an undergraduate student at The College of New Jersey, majoring in international studies. She is a Counselor in Training for Travel for Teens. She has a passion for travel, dogs and adrenaline based activities.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose this program because I had never seen the west coast of the USA or Canada. I had always been abroad and out of the country. Additionally, the trip included a lot of nature hiking based activities as well as outdoors adventures. I felt as though it'd be great for me to try new activities out like rock climbing, camping, and more. This program offered so many new and exciting activities for me to try out and experience.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

You need to organize your flights to get to group flights, and you choose where you go for lunch, but ultimately everything else is assisted by the company. They assist with the itinerary and give you an idea of what to pack and what you will be doing. Ultimately, the trip is planned for you. You just need to figure out how you'll get to the perspective airports.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I would say: do your best to maintain a positive attitude. There are so many bumps along the road, but if you look at the bright side and fun of the adventure, it'll be the best trip of your life. You just need to go with the flow and enjoy each opportunity that comes your way. That will ensure the best trip possible. Attitude is everything!

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Every day looks very different, but usually you get up around 8am or earlier, have breakfast and drive to your destination. We did different activities every day, usually one to three activities, depending on how long they would take. After that, we'd have dinner and then explore the area. It's long days, but extremely rewarding and fun!

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was not doing a good job as a CIT. But I made sure to ask my co-counselors what they needed of me and how I could be of help. This gave me guidelines and ensured that I'd be fulfilling all of my responsibilities. My views changed once I got to the third league of the trip. I was a lot more comfortable with my co-counselors and I knew how to handle more situations.

Why should you travel abroad?

Traveling abroad is so important because you gain a cultural perspective, you have hands on learning, it's amazing to see something greater than yourself, and there is so much growth and development that happens while you're away. You will see a happier you on the other side and make friends around the world!