By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
A group of Clay County students had the opportunity for the trip of a lifetime this summer. Despite the economic hardships many of their families face, local residents helped make sure it happened for 19 students, who traveled to Scotland as part of Clay County’s Global Studies program led by Global Studies Co-Directors and Hayesville teachers, Ginger Scerri and Michelle Calascione.
The students are grateful to their community for donations, supporting the fund-raisers and the community’s interest in students’ personal fund-raising efforts from babysitting to baking and selling crafts.
To show their appreciation, the students recently shared some of their memories. Lariah Carr said she tried “crazy food,” out of her comfort zone. “My favorite part of this trip was seeing all the historical aspects around us everywhere we went. It was like we were in the museum, even on the streets,” she said. “I talked with people and noticed differences I had no idea or any preparation for. It was so cool to experience a whole other culture in a safe place with Global Studies sponsors and other students.”
C.J. Finn also loved the cultural experience. “This trip meant a lot to me because it is just the beginning of my adventure to see the world,”
he shared. “The thing I liked the most about the trip was being able to experience the culture and see how society works outside of our home country. The music was cool, too, I even got a small bagpipe lesson in a small store we visited.”
Rising freshman Adalee Ford said learning about the travels for years was much different than experiencing it. “This trip was really out of my comfort zone, but I am so glad I went. I felt like I was in another world in the best way possible,” she explained. “Seeing the differences of the people, trying such new things, being away from my comforts, all taught me a lot about myself. This trip has shaped me and impacted me tremendously.”
Scerri felt the trip went well. “This trip was fantastic,” she said. “Yes, we had a few hiccups we had to flex with, which was also a learning curve for our students to see how we respond to those things when unpredictable things pop up. Our paramount goal is to provide safety for kids to travel globally and be able to learn and not be stressed.”
Hayesville High School rising junior Ann Gibson said, “Our Global Studies trip to Scotland was such an awesome experience. We were able to see such beautiful places and have lots of fun. It was the trip of a lifetime that has shaped me and my future goals tremendously.” Her sister, Grace Gibson agreed. “Our Global Studies trip to Scotland was such a life-changing experience. I feel like a more well-rounded and prepared person for the world around me because of that trip.”
Polly Jones said, “This Scotland trip was life changing for me. I am very grateful for the opportunity to experience travel outside of the states and to try new things outside of my comfort zone. This has showed me, I can do the things I didn’t think I could.”
For Aydah Judd, the entire trip was good except she does not like marmite. “There was not a single part of this trip that was not outstanding as my favorite part because it all was,” she smiled. “One of my favorite moments was every evening when we had dinner together, we would go around and ask questions and talk about our day and what we were learning. I think my favorite moments were those where we all connected together and I’m super thankful for that. We all learned a ton and saw different cultures and amazing places, but we all did it together and that was really neat.”
Emilia Lackey enjoyed the trip a lot. “It taught me about the way other people live life,” she said. “It was so cool to see the differences. I feel the world isn’t as scary and big as I thought and that people are everywhere, even when different. My favorite part was hanging out with everyone at the top of our two mile hike to the Old Man Storr on the Isle of Skye. The geography and view were just breathtaking.”
Another rising junior, Abigail McClure, is thankful she was able to be part of the Scotland trip. “I am so thankful to have been able to go. It was a fun and educational experience,” she said. “As a mentor, I enjoyed getting to know the kids outside of a school setting and begin building a relationship with the future mentors. I also got to see firsthand what Mrs. Scerri has been trying to teach us about the world, the differences make it so beautiful. I am better for having done this trip.”
Scerri said student Cameron Woody graduated this year, but was inspired by the Global Studies program to do a language immersion program at a German university in the fall. All other students who traveled this year will have the opportunity to travel again in summer 2025 as long as they maintain eligibility requirements. The next Global Studies trip being planned is a European trip, but the students have not been told the secret location. A meeting will be held during the week of Aug. 12 to make the official announcement. “We will be looking at right about 30 kids,” Scerri said. “We are going to be starting early to begin fundraising efforts. One of the really cool things is we are actually going to go to one of the archaeological sites of one of my professors I worked with so the kids can see a true site while they are there in addition to all the other things.”
Regarding the 2024 trip, she said, “To every single person that shared it, promoted it, help-desk, ran fundraisers, donated, big or small, helped us get seen so that people and businesses could support these kids, I want to tell you thank you from the bottom of my heart. The experience, learning and everything in between that took place on this trip cannot be put into words and its priceless for these students’ futures.”
For details email Scerri: gingerbuchananscerri@gmail.com.