Fifteen students explored the Lake District and London during a spring global studies trip organized by English teacher Emily Balliet ’03. English teacher Austin Roy ’13 and director of counseling and student support Ann Vradenburg joined Balliet in chaperoning the trip, which was designed to help form a personal connection to the AP Literature curriculum.

“Colonialism is a big part of the curriculum,” Balliet says. “I really wanted the students to walk away from the trip trusting themselves in unfamiliar situations and finding an admiration and appreciation for literature, with a modern focus on women and the unseen.”

The group’s first activity was a rigorous hike in the otherworldly beauty of the Lake District. “From there, we visited the Brontë house. We learned about the socioeconomic disparities of the 19th Century, from industrialization to child labor,” says Izzy Lanstra ’25.

In London, the group took a Black history tour of the West End, participated in a workshop at the Globe Theatre, and toured the British Museum. At every point, guides asked the students provocative questions about historic influences.

“There was no consensus in these conversations,” Balliet notes, “but the students discussed and listened respectfully. Global studies trips are essential for fostering empathy. Travel helps us learn about other people and understand how they live.”

Noah Jefferson ’26 says, “If you come with an open mindset and you’re ready to learn and to talk to other people, you’re going to have a good experience.”