Mrs. Sepe’s trip to the Dominican Republic offers new experiences outside of student’s comfort zones while under a watchful eye.
Every year Aliso Niguel High School offers its students a trip to a foreign country provided they are taking the language. Mrs. Sepe leads this program and plans to take students to the Dominican Republic next spring break.
On the trips, students are completely taken care of. Mrs. Sepe makes sure flights, hotels, meals, transportation and all activities are covered and planned ahead of time. This allows students to have a memorable experience without the stress of planning and coordination during their time off of school.
Without the burden, students don’t require parents to help them despite being in a foreign country. Mrs. Sepe says that the trip allows kids to go, “outside of your comfort zone but still within the boundaries of protection.”
This sentiment is largely the mission plan and purpose of the entire trip, allowing students to use their “adult judgment” and their linguistic skills.
With such a large group of students in a foreign environment, the trip requires chaperones. Usually the ratio of kids to adults is 5:1, making sure everyone is safe and cared for while also not being overbearing. The chaperones mostly consist of Aliso’s Spanish staff but can also include parents of kids on the trip; however, Mrs. Sepe discourages this in order to give independence to attendees.
While on the trip, students have a packed itinerary. Usually the activities include fun outings such as white water rafting and ziplining depending on the selected destination.
On the annual trips students are given a chance to experience new cultures they may never have experienced otherwise. Alex Silyvae (11) has traveled all around the world. When asked about his experiences he said, “You get to learn a lot of things.”
A foreign country is usually a scary and unknown place which discourages many from visiting, but with Mrs Sepe’s dedication and oversight, this trip allows students to experience the unknown without fear.
In order to join the trip, students must enroll a year in advance. If interested, students must fill out a form they can find in Mrs Sepe’s portable 23. Coinciding with the form, one student must pay four thousand dollars, covering the entirety of the trip. This year’s deadline for the form is April 1, 2024, due to Mrs. Sepe directly.
Despite the fee, the trip is not a school event, rather it is only a trip solicited through the school. The money is taken and used on the trip, not to raise funds for the school.
San Juan and San Clemente also have similar programs due to their immersion students, but Aliso does not share the same classes. Thus students of Aliso Niguel High School are lucky as this school is one of few in the district who offer such an exclusive opportunity.
The act of traveling is also invaluable. Travel teaches people about other cultures and people and allows them to learn more about themselves. Highschool presents a turning point in everyone who attends it, so travel is the perfect pair to help on the quest of self discovery many teens embark on.
The deadline for Aliso’s annual trip is approaching, providing an opportunity students may never have again.
