It is truly hard to describe just how much I loved this trip and just how much it meant to me. First of all, the staff turned the group international flight from something stressful to something easy and straight forward. As someone who finds flying quite difficult at times, I was so grateful. The first place we went to was Athens. We stayed in an air bnb a short walk away from the ruins of the Greek Agora and the Acropolis of Athens. From there we joined a cruise for a week, where we spent the days hopping between Thessaloniki, Ephesus, Heraklion, Santorini, Milos and Mykonos. We saw beautiful churches, ancient ruins, traditional rug making, and where the Venus statue was originally discovered. We even spent a whole day at the beach on Mykonos. We spent the last week in Naples and Rome seeing Herculaneum, Pompeii, the Vatican, and eating an immense amount of gelato to escape the heat. It truly was an incredible collection of adventures.
The beautiful sights were wonderful, but at the end of the day, the staff were what made this trip wonderful. The classes were interesting and genuinely got me more excited than any class ever has. I came away with a better understanding of ancient Western architecture, art, and culture, as well as just plain history. It taught me that hands-on learning is what really works for me. I learned how to learn.
Going to a foreign country with people you don't know beforehand is nerve-racking. There is no way around it. Derek and the rest of the World Class Programs staff helped me and my family through every single step leading up to the trip. They got to know us, answered every question, and soothed every worry we had. They laid out every step of the program beforehand and walked us through all the safety precautions. By the time the trip was around the corner, I was well prepared. The staff continued to be wonderful on the trip. They hit the perfect balance of keeping things fun and safe while also treating us like young adults.
The gap between high school and college seems very big. I have to go from being entirely reliant on my family and community to being mostly self-sufficient. It's a big jump. What I love about World Class Programs is that they have helped college feel less daunting. Yes, I got to take cool classes and see fun things, but I also learned what it's like to live away from home. I learned how to live with roommates and how to manage my own time responsibly. I learned how and when to ask for help and that asking for help isn't always as scary as it once felt. On top of that, I learned basic skills like how to use a washer and dryer in a different country and how to manage language barriers. World Class Programs gave me an opportunity to work on important life skills and strengthen the ones I already have.
Long story short, this has been the best summer of my life. It's been fun and exciting as well as educational and meaningful. I know this review is cheesy, but I genuinely don’t know how else to describe how wonderful this program has been. If you are looking to see if a gap year program is for you, taking a step towards living on your own, or simply want a fun summer adventure, this trip is really perfect. Thank you so much, Derek and Ellen, and the rest of the World Class Program team.
