Laughter fills conversations as students post photos of passports and packed suitcases for an upcoming international trip abroad, while others’ hearts ache as they look past, knowing those opportunities are not meant for them. 

International travel is considered one of the most impactful forms of out-of-classroom education for high school students. According to a poll by the Student & Youth Travel Digest (SYTD), 80% of the educators polled believe travel is “extremely effective” in improving students’s academic, personal, and social development.

At Fairfield Ludlowe High School (FLHS), access to these opportunities is limited due to financial support, awareness, and safety. In an anonymous survey, 70% of respondents said they do not feel FLHS offers many international or travel opportunities, and 80% said they do not believe those opportunities are accessible to all students. Respondents said trips should be “more accessible and promoted better,” while others said they were unaware of opportunities unless they were enrolled in a specific class.

School psychologist Timothy Morris explained why international experiences are important to high school students. “It actually helps with teenage development because they see what other cultures are like, they see what other worlds are like,” Morris said. “Sometimes we get so caught up in our way of life here in the U.S. that we don’t realize what it’s like somewhere else.”

Morris also noted that although trips are offered, they are not always accessible, since “Not everybody has the finances to do it,” and “there are some people that really would want to go but they don’t have that opportunity.” With international trips costing between $5,000 and $10,000 at FLHS, 90% of SYTD respondents agree that finances are the main restriction for students and families.

One recent example of an international opportunity at FLHS was the Edinburgh Fringe Festival trip, led by English teacher and drama director, Christina McIntosh-Newsom. The trip, organized through the American High School Theatre Festival and FLHS Drama Club parent boosters, allowed students to perform as part of the largest theater festival in the world. Newsom says the experience helped students grow in confidence, teamwork, and artistic skill.

Because of the cost, $6,970, families relied heavily on fundraising, “The participants and their families really worked together to come up with some really creative and effective fundraising ideas — from selling socks to hosting princess parties to car washes,” Newsom said, “Every little bit helped.” 

However, student experience is not universal. One survey respondent shared a different perspective, saying, “I personally am on free-reduced lunch, and the school provides me lots of opportunities to travel by paying for the trip or partially paying for the trip if it’s going to cost a lot.” Suggesting that although financial support does exist, many students are not aware of it. 

Throughout respondents’ feedback, one take was universal: students want more global exposure. Suggestions included more travel opportunities, better promotion, and trips focused on specific interests, such as culinary travel to France to study pastries and food culture.

Morris, suggesting solutions, says to bring international voices and opportunities directly into the school for students who do not have the opportunity to travel. “There are certain clubs that have speakers that come in,” he said. “I think they should also have that here… to bring in people from different countries too.” 

As FLHS continues to plan international trips for future school years, student responses point to a desire for more accessibility and awareness around global experiences. FLHS has many opportunities for students, but there are not many opportunities for all.