Closer Look

FHS students expand their horizons

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Anna Waskey

Franklin High School (FHS) students have had several opportunities recently to enhance their education by traveling. From a spring break trip across Europe to a planned competition in California this summer, FHS students have been granted the gift of learning far beyond their classrooms.

“They learn real-world skills like navigating airports, checking in on their own, keeping track of important documents like passports, and managing their personal belongings,” said Social Studies teacher Gwen Gibson, who led the recent trip to London, Paris, and Barcelona. “But beyond the logistics, it’s about seeing the world through their eyes. Their excitement is contagious, and watching them react to new cultures, foods, and places is a powerful reminder that, truly, it’s a whole new world out there.”

STUDENTS HEATHER McCoy (left) and Isabella Innis during a stop at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England.

This was not the first time FHS students traveled abroad. “The idea for this trip was inspired by the success of our previous travel experience. It was such a meaningful and memorable journey that it opened the door to future opportunities. I truly believe in the value of student travel — it gives them a perspective they can’t get from a classroom,” said Gibson.

This trip had a smaller group than last summer’s, with 13 participants: 10 students and three adult chaperones. The FHS group was also paired with a group from Canada.

“This was a great opportunity for cultural exchange. It was fascinating to see the differences between American and Canadian education systems, and it really added depth to the experience,” elaborated Gibson.

Educational travel does not mean that students, chaperones, and coordinators miss out on the fun.
“[My favorite part about international trips is] the joy of discovering new places, tasting new foods, and immersing myself in cultures that are different from my own,” Gibson shared. “It’s also incredibly rewarding to do things that many people may never get the chance to experience. Each trip is a reminder of how big and beautiful the world really is.”

Both teachers and students benefit from international learning experiences.

“I’m a hands-on and visual learner, so actually being there and seeing the different cultures helped me learn a lot,” said Isabella Innis, a senior at FHS. “Coming from someone who has lived in a small town her whole life, it made me realize how much more there is to the world than just Franklin. I loved the walkable cities and how having a car wasn’t necessary to get around. I loved the diversity that surrounded me; there were people from literally all over the world and it was so cool to see.” 

Travel in the U.S.

As exciting as life outside the country can be, FHS also travels domestically. This summer, members of FHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) will travel to California for the FBLA National Leadership Conference.

“We went to Greensboro in March for the state leadership conference. If the students place in the top four, you qualify for Nationals, where they compete against 16,000-18,000 people across the nation,” explained Michelle Brooks, career and technical education teacher and FBLA club sponsor.

Competing in these events involves completing a service project. To qualify for the national conference, FHS’s FBLA raised $7,500, which paid for the western region of North Carolina to come to the competitions, as they gave each school that suffered from Hurricane Helene $500 to help offset leadership competition costs. This money was raised by the club and was donated by individuals and businesses alike.

“The national competition is much harder and on a greater scale. [While we are in California] we plan to go to Disneyland, do a tour of Los Angeles, Hollywood, and Santa Monica, and we’ll go see the Hollywood sign; I’ve done all this before so I’m excited to see it again,” said Brooks.

FBLA will also go to Phoenix, Ariz., in the fall for another leadership conference, which is not as competition-oriented and it is shorter — just four days long. While there, the group will visit the Grand Canyon. “And then next year we will go to San Antonio for nationals,” added Brooks.

“I think [such experiences] teaches students how to travel, as far as maneuvering through an airport, for example. I also think it teaches them the responsibility of working hard and knowing that it pays off,” she explained. “They also get to network with businesses and universities as we fly to these different places. They make contacts that will last a lifetime. And too, seeing the world a little bit, outside of Macon County, is such a good experience.”

In addition to the benefits gained outside the classroom, travel helps students develop skills that support their academic lives.

“I think traveling helps them to mature a little bit, it lights a fire to [inspire] them to do more the next year, and it helps them relate with me on a deeper level,” said Brooks.  

“Traveling is easily my favorite thing to do,” said Heather McCoy, a senior who was part of the trip to Europe. “No matter where you go, you find yourself learning how closely culture and environment are linked, and how people adapt to said environment. It made me more aware of different ways of living, whether it be surviving, everyday jobs, entertainment, or even their religion. It helps me understand that since there are billions of people in the world, there are so many different ways to live.”

Anna Waskey is an honors student at Franklin High School.