Many students vacation in tourist hotspots like Florida and Mexico, however, sophomores Camryn Simon and Maggie Mattes chose to travel to authentic, non-tourist communities.

They visit countries through Global Leadership Adventures. GLA’s mission is to to inspire high schoolers to realize their potential to transform the world and their role in it. To accomplish this, students perform community service, experience hands-on learning, culture immersion and adventure. The organization offers summer trips to countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.

Last summer, Simon traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand. Mattes went to St. Mathew’s Village in Belize.

“It was a ton of fun,” Simon said. “It’s not really a place that I would ever be able to go just for a normal vacation, so there was an opportunity, so I wanted to take it.”

Both Simon and Mattes spent three weeks in the countries. During their time there, they visited an elementary school, painted walls, paved driveways, taught kids English and planted gardens. While in Thailand, Simon also did tourist attractions like riding elephants and ziplining through a forest.

Although both girls went by themselves, Simon’s mom, Anne Simon, said these trips help to teach skills like independence that a traditional classroom can’t. She added that the values GLA trips instill in students can help them in future careers.

“Though I worry about her when she is off on her own, I want her to experience all that life offers. I want her to meet other people and learn from everyone, and I don’t want her to be afraid to explore any opportunity life may offer to her,” Anne said via email. “Also, I hope she learns to take pleasure in the simple things, to learn from the kids she helps, to learn the value of service to others.”

Camryn and Mattes decided to go on a GLA trip because their siblings had gone on them. Both girls also wanted to expand their knowledge of other cultures.

“It helps you become more independent and more out there in the world,” Mattes said. “It’s just really good to see how other people in different countries live and see how different our lives are compared to theirs, and it’s a good refresher for everyone.”

Because of their positive experiences, both Camryn and Mattes said they plan to go to Ghana and Tanzania, respectively.

Anne said the trips also allow kids to gain an appreciation of their own lives and the world, which spurs their love for traveling.

“I think that (Camryn) comes back from these trips with a bit more empathy and understanding for people as well as a better perspective on her own life,” Anne said. “It helps her to slow down and see someone else’s point of view just a little bit better. It also lets her know that the world is a very wonderful place worth working hard to earn the opportunity to explore.”

Although the trips Camryn and Mattes took were organized through GLA, both hope to travel independently one day. Camryn said that these experiences will also help her make career choices in the future.

“I want to be a doctor or something and travel to places. I can determine where I want to go based on places I’ve already gone or heard about,” Camryn said. “I just think it’s a really good experience that not a lot of people get to go on, and it’s just such an eye-opening experience, and you feel really good about yourself for doing all of this service, but you also have a really fun time, and you meet kids from all around the world or country. It’s just cool to experience a new culture and live in a different place for a couple weeks.”