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This past April, about 40 Mansueto High School students left their homes feeling both excited and nervous. Their lessons this week would not happen inside of their usual classrooms. For these lessons, they would be flying over the Atlantic Ocean to London, Paris, and Barcelona.

Over the years, Mansueto staff have organized many study abroad trips open to all students. Two years ago, they went to Japan with Xavier Hall, the dean of specialized student services. Next year, Paulina Victor, who teaches 9th-grade biology, will take students to the Galápagos Islands and Ruby Villagrana, the assistant dean of college counseling, will be taking a separate group of students to the Alps and Mediterranean Coast.

But this year, they travelled to Europe with Aileen Galeana, who teaches math at Mansueto. The group landed first in London. Galeana said the first day everyone was mostly tired because of jet lag, but on the second day, they were ready to adventure.

This was senior Belinda Cadena’s first time in Europe, and she was already amazed by that first day of exploration.

“I felt so in awe of everything that was around me. From the cobble stone streets to the gothic-styled buildings, the history behind them was just so beautiful,” she said, “Just seeing each structure did NOT do them justice, but having their stories told to me made me appreciate them even more.”

The group spent two days in London, three days in Paris, and ended their trip with three days in Barcelona.

Galeana, a Mansueto alum, has had the good fortune of participating in the trip as both a student and a teacher. For her, the most memorable part of this trip was a nighttime boat ride in Paris. She said the moment when they saw the Eiffel Tower was “magical.”

“I cried when I called my mom to show her, and when I looked around, my students were also calling home to show their families. It was so magical to see. It was rainy and cold and my students still had the brightest faces. They were laughing, taking pictures, and just being in the moment. Seeing them sing along with the speaker and taking pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower warmed my heart in ways I had never felt before,” Galeana said.

For Elleny Aguirre, a junior, the most memorable part was the final leg of the trip when students explored Barcelona. Elleny said walking around the city to shop, eat, and see the sights with her friend group was fun.

“Me and my friends went to the beach during our free time, played music, took pictures, and enjoyed the waves. Overall, it brought us together,” She said.

Galeana says that these moments to explore new countries and cultures on their own are part of why study abroad trips are so important for students.

“I think students gain a lot of independence and adaptability from our trips abroad,” She said. “They were left to explore on their own, try new foods, try new things in another culture, and even grasp at new languages. They were able to overcome that fear of being dependent on an adult and find ways to work things out on their own.”

She remarked that the exposure to other cultures also helps students become more empathetic.

Belinda echoed a similar sentiment.

“What I gained from my trip is perspective. The world is way bigger than what we think it to be. When you choose to explore it, you open yourself to so many more possibilities,” She said. “The best way I can describe this is that it’s like a tree. The branches are always reaching outwards, growing and prospering in different directions. Overall, I believe expanding horizons will be the only way people can truly live life to the fullest.”