At Sandy Spring Friends every year in March, high school students go on intersession trips all around the world. Unlike other high schools, Sandy Spring has a program where students choose trips to take, led by teachers and other school staff members. The students are given a wide range of choices, from international and service trips to local arts and history trips. There are typically four international intersession trips offered. These are the most popular trips and are normally full of upperclassmen. Service trips are less popular and typically chosen by sophomores and first year students. Every student is required to go on at least one service trip in their high school career. Sophomores generally want to get their service trip out of the way, so that the next two years they chose any trip they desire, assuming they are selected by the intersession committee, of course.
There are a number of factors that affect the decision a student makes when writing out the top five trips they wish to go on. Being placed on the same trip as your friends is a big part in the student’s decision making. Most students will want to have at least one close friend to accompany them on their intersession trip. Some are so worried about being on a trip with their friends that they copy each other’s lists.
Another important part of a student’s decision is the faculty members leading each trip. Each trip has at least two members of the school’s faculty or staff. Predominantly, teachers lead the trips. If a student doesn’t have an especially good relationship with at least one of the leaders, they will be less inclined to put that leader’s trip on their list. Of course, a big part of the decision is also where the trip is going and what activities are planned during the trip. Naturally, this is one of the reasons why foreign trips tend to be so popular. But it also accounts for the popularity of trips that are more distant, to the West, Southwest, and South.
Intersession is a wonderful bonding experience that is pretty unique to Sandy Spring Friends School, where students build on their existing friendships, form new friendships and make closer bonds with the faculty and staff as well. Even deciding where you want to go is an integral part of the experience. So, my fellow students, I hope you chose well and received a selection you can embrace; and I hope you have a great time on your trip!