As Gatton students, we have the unique opportunity to study abroad as high schoolers. This past summer, I went on the Harlaxton trip to England. Through this trip, I was able to visit a new country for three weeks while also taking care of a required English credit.

Being able to learn about English literature while in England was better than I could’ve ever imagined! Experiences like reading Shakespeare’s Sonnets one day and then visiting Shakespeare’s birthplace the next day were unforgettable.

The freedom we were given to explore the places we visited, whether we were wandering around Harlaxton Manor or sightseeing in London, was also a breath of fresh air from the traditional rigid structure of school trips.

However, the best part of Harlaxton was traveling with other Gatton students. Since only 50 students are randomly selected for the trip each year, Harlaxton creates a “subsection” of the Gatton community that may not include all your closest friends from Gatton. At Gatton, it can be easy to get caught up in friend groups that only consist of people who are on your floor, in your classes, do the same activities, and so on. As a result, you may never talk to those who don’t fall into one of the aforementioned categories. Harlaxton is a great way to “break out” of these groups and make new friends. The shared experience this small group has of attending class, working on group projects, and visiting new places together means that it becomes very close knit.

While on the trip, I found myself becoming good friends with people I’d never talked to before as we biked through the English countryside, watched The Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace, and studied for quizzes we had the next day.

Regardless of whether I was with my new or old friends, being surrounded by them while exploring everything England had to offer was what made this trip unique. While I have had great experiences traveling abroad with family, the more casual nature of hanging out with friends like it was just another weekend was something that couldn’t be beaten. Of course, the difference was that instead of going to a local theater to watch a movie, we were going to Shakespeare’s Globe to watch The Tempest!

For those of you going on the Harlaxton trip or another study abroad trip, the following are a few things to keep in mind, so you can have as much fun as I did!

Don’t just stick with the friends you already have! – It can be tempting to only hang out with your best friends on the trip, but be sure to talk to new people as well. Since you’re in a smaller group, you might as well try to get to know as many people as you can. 

Plan ahead! – You’ll be given a lot of free time at each of the places you visit on the trip. Figure out where you want to eat or what attractions you want to check out. Then, find other people who are interested in the same places. This can be a great way to meet others who share interests with you.

Branch out! – Don’t be afraid to try new things! You’re in a new country, so you should try to broaden your horizons with the new experiences that are offered. Whether it’s going to a restaurant with food you’ve never had before or going to a museum that may seem boring at first, diving into these new experiences will allow you to find new things you may enjoy and new friends along the way.