Steven Herrada-Luna and Raul Rivera-Prieto are HHS 10th grade students. They both feel this trip will grow their future opportunities.
By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
A Scotland trip is planned for 19 Clay County teens from June 10 to June 18. Clay County’s Global Studies program is offering this opportunity, but it will take the community’s help to make the travel dreams a reality.
While this program is not an official school-sponsored trip, Global Studies Co-Directors Ginger Scerri and Michelle Calascione, are Hayesville teachers. The students chosen to go are all Hayesville students and their directors are adamant the entire group should get to go.
Yet for many families, this trip is not financially feasible. Calascione and Scerri issued this statement, “It is very important for us to be successful in raising the funds for this awesome opportunity for our qualifying kids at a limited financial burden cost of their families. So many of our students qualify as true poverty level, which is why we have started so early in our fundraising efforts. This is how we found ourselves looking to fund the 19 students of our rising eighth, ninth and tenth grade Global Studies participants and mentors to go on a trip to Scotland this year.”
First, each student had to apply. They also needed recommendations and wrote essays. To maintain eligibility, they must maintain A/B honor roll, as well as certain behavior expectations the entire school year.
Fund-raising options are listed at the article’s end. Meanwhile, many students have taken individual fund-raising, from babysitting to selling home-baked goods, crafts and more.
For the next few weeks, we will run some of the essays they wrote. These are in no particular order, but we hope you will learn more about these hard-working students and decide if you are able to help in some way.
Ninth grader Cailey Bowers said, “My hopes for this experience and opportunity is to be educational and learn many things about Scotland. I hope to learn about Scottish Gaelic, food, culture and anything else there is to learn. I am a sucker for knowledge.”
She also looks forward to flying and landing safely, as well as having fun learning outside of a classroom. “I look forward to having class outside in the beautiful countryside overlooking Isle of Skye,” she added. “I hope to bring back home adventurous stories and knowledge to share among friends and family that did not have the opportunity. I see this experience changing me for the better by making me less oblivious to other cultures, countries and lifestyles. And by being more respectful of them.
Highland Games are one example of something Bowers finds interesting to share. She wants to bring home souvenirs and memories, including what a castle looks like. “To paint a mental picture for my younger sisters without having to squash their dreams of being a princess,” she continued. “In conclusion, Global Studies is the opportunity of a lifetime to explore the road less traveled and go to Scotland and bring me along. I will be on my best behavior, promise to follow rules and learn all I can without complaining.”
Hayesville High School’s Steven Herrada-Luna believes the Scotland trip will shape his future in many ways. The 10th grader said, “An educational trip to Scotland holds immense potential for broadening my horizons and deepening my understanding of various subjects. From history to culture, Scotland is a breeding ground for learning, exploration and new things, especially for those of us who have never traveled internationally.”
He continued. “Exploring Scotland would also encourage me to grow as a person. Traveling aboard challenges my comfort zone, creates independence and promotes adaptability. This occurs because I have to learn to navigate foreign environments, interact with a community very different from the one here in Hayesville and learn to appreciate the different worldviews a culture has. Using this newly acquired knowledge, I can be a better leader than if I would not have been able to go. From the rugged Highlands to the breathtaking Isle of Skye, I could make memories to last a lifetime. This would encourage me to travel abroad in the future and deepen my interest in other cultures.”
Herrada-Luna most looks forward to Edinburgh. “Edinburgh boasts an incredible history and a culture that’s irresistible. It has iconic landmarks like Edinburgh Castle and has world-class universities like the University of Edinburgh. Not only that, Edinburgh has an incredible skyline,” he added. “I love sightseeing. Something about large cities or breathtaking mountain views fills me with awe. I believe that is what I will get when I travel to Scotland.”
Raul Rivera-Prieto, 10th grade, is excited to see castles. “I am most excited and exhilarated to explore the fortifications of the Scottish people and visit Edinburgh Castle,” he said. “After some research, it appears to be of high altitude and I bet the sights from that mountain will be awesome for pictures. It is said to be inhabited since the Iron Age and still in use today.”
Since it his first time traveling abroad, Rivera-Prieto hopes to learn about Scottish culture and geography. “I really don’t know much about them and don’t want to confuse their traditions or customs with Irish,” he added. “In some movies and documentaries, Scotland has hilly terrain and large fields similar to our mountainous terrain. I would like to explore biomes and areas of Scotland.”
He ended, “I see this experience changing me by learning new customs and traditions, meeting new people and discovering much more from this country. This is an opportunity to connect with people of a different culture on a different level than just reading a book or watching a documentary. I never thought I would leave the country at 16 nor have I ever thought about leaving the country. This could really help me find out more about myself, my interests and the paths in life I can take.”
More information will be given about the trip. Clay County Schools released this statement, “Although Ginger Scerri and Michelle Calascione’s Global Studies GearUP program is a school group with Clay County Schools, throughout the school year, this trip is not affiliated with our school system, for funding and liability reasons. However, our school system is excited to see an experiential learning opportunity take place for these students on these teachers’ own time with students who qualify with their academic and behavioral expectations.”
Travel cost for each student will be $4,200. Direct donation options for Global Scotland trip are:
• SECU.
• GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/global-studies-program-trip-to-scotland-june-2024.
• Contact Ginger Scerri: gingerbuchananscerri@gmail.com to coordinate a donation.