2026 program

I was a part of 2026 the eight week long program where I and five others spent time living in Northern Ireland, focusing on social media projects for a local business and the tourism board. The highlighted points of this trip, like learning to live independently and gaining skills to use in the future, were all met. I had the chance to set goals for myself and successfully meet them, feeling proud of the things I achieved and learned. The program set up allows a lot of opportunities for students to decide how to make the most of their trip- we didn’t spend unnecessary time in the office! Balancing interesting tasks given by the program with free time was a great way to personalize the program and discover all Portrush had to offer. Katie and Ricky, our program leaders, were so welcoming and supportive throughout the trip, and provided a sense of community that can sometimes feel far away when living abroad. They pushed us to try new things and truly put effort into giving each student a memorable experience. I highly recommend this program to any young person who wants to use their time before school in a productive and fulfilling way. Traveling often impacts people in very personal and beneficial ways, and getting to experience a new part of the world for an extended period of time taught me so much about the world and myself.