This Saturday, Convent students and faculty will be saying goodbye to the sophomores girls for the following week. The 10th grade is heading on the annual Costa Rica trip. On the 8 hour flight to Costa Rica, many sophomores will be looking forward to the multitude of activities planned, according to Parent.
“I am really excited for this trip,” sophomore Mallory Parent said. “I am especially excited for white water rafting and surfing,”
President Ann Marie Krejcarek introduced this trip to the sophomores in 2014, intending to expose students to different cultural practices and hands-on service learning, according to sacredsf. Now an annual tradition, it is described by many upperclassmen as a true highlight of their high school experiences, as they are encouraged to use this week as a reflective period – all cell phones and electronic devices having been left behind.
In the past, there have been many opportunities to engage in the Costa Rica trip including playing with children at the local school, cleaning up the beach, ziplining, horseback riding, and much more. This trip offers a lot to the sophomore classes, and with this being its 11th consecutive year, it is said to be widely enjoyed and one of the most cherished parts of the Convent & Stuart Hall experience, according to High School Chair of Community Life Michael Buckley.
“There are several service projects in which the students engage, especially with the local elementary school in the village where they stay,” Buckley said. “Additionally, there are moments of reflection, discussion, and contemplation built into the schedule,”
The Costa Rica Trip is a service trip, has reflective aspects, pushes students’ comfort zones, allowing for a growth mindset, and truly focuses on creating an incredible experience in community building. Many students return having deepened friendships they already have and made new ones that they didn’t expect, according to Buckley.
“The Costa Rica trip sounds like so much fun. I can’t wait to visit a new country, travel around it, and help the community with my peers,” says freshman Freya Sweeney. “I’m counting down the days until I’m a sophomore and I get to go,”
The activities are meant to be fun but also challenge the students to step outside of their comfort zones. The trip is a combination of a retreat, service trip, and personal reflection, according to Sweeney.
“I can’t wait to go to Costa Rica,” said Parent. “It’s going to be such a fun and bonding experience.”
