One of my main draws to Convent of the Sacred Heart High School was the amazing Costa Rica bonding trip. Ever since my time at the middle school, stories from this trip, told by my siblings and the school, had been passed down to the lower form. When deciding which high school I would most like to attend, this trip and the excitement and envy I had built up was a large contributing factor for myself and many others.
The first and final days consisted mostly of travel. The first day, about half of the sophomore class met at 4 p.m. to catch our first flight to the Los Angeles International Airport where we would then board our flight to Costa Rica.
One element that made the trip even more special was the school’s continuous effort to try things and make memories. For example, right after we got off the plane in Costa Rica we stopped for an authentic Costa Rican breakfast with our flight group. After breakfast and two hours napping on the bus, we stopped again. This time we stopped at the crocodile river, a salt lake river known for frequent crocodile sightings. Although we did not see any crocodiles we got the opportunity to practice our Spanish with vendors and explore the stores nearby. On the way back we also made a stop to buy souvenirs for our families and get lunch from the small food court.
My favorite part of the Costa Rica trip was the many water sports we got to experiment with. I participated in white water rafting, swimming, cliff diving, and surfing. All of these activities were super fun and a great way to bond with our classmates. Even though I was not proficient at any of those activities I still felt that I was able to learn and improve for future and endeavors. I appreciated that the Costa Rica trip challenged me to do things a little bit out of my comfort zone so I could experience the essence of Costa Rica and test my boundaries for my own growth.
Overall, I think this trip is an amazing experience that brings the sophomore class together. I loved the interactiveness of the activities and the wise freedom on the trip. Also the aspects of the trip people typically worry about (like roommates and day groups), all turn out fun and the way they are supposed to. If anyone asked me about my experience on the Costa Rica trip or for my advice, I would tell them not to stress about the little things and live in the moment. Also I would recommend bringing a camera to record some of the moments with your friends and the beautiful views.
