Before I left for my first GSA program, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I knew it would be amazing, and I would learn a lot, but I didn’t realize just how much I would grow from this experience. This is why doing a Global Summers Academy program has been one of the best decisions I’ve made during high school so far!
One of the biggest things I gained from my program was better social skills. Being surrounded by tons of students from different backgrounds, all in the same situation, pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible. By the end of the program, you become friendly with everyone, and create some amazing bonds with some people. I now have so many new great friends from the summer that I still hang out with today. I believe that GSA encourages friendship building in such a unique way and I’ve seen some of my friends come out of their shells and gain so much more confidence through their program. Through working on schoolwork and studying, participating in conversations, and going on outings with all the students, I found myself to be more confident and comfortable with big groups and social settings.
Another major takeaway from my program was independence, and learning to be more self-sufficient, especially when it came to budgeting. This was the first time I had a real sort of responsibility over my own spending and budgeting. It was a good start to get a feel of living with roommates and without parents in the house controlling finances. Having this taste of university-like living has helped prepare me for post secondary life. Through this experience, I’ve learned lessons that I know to be useful in the future, even after post-secondary, like the importance of planning ahead, prioritizing, and making good financial decisions.
Balancing all the classes, activities, and social time requires organization and discipline, and GSA really helped me develop my time management skills. It can be very difficult when you are surrounded by friends and exciting things to actually get schoolwork done, but through the teacher’s support and help, you learn how to structure your days and meet deadlines, while also having time to enjoy the beautiful places you are in, and spend time with friends without feeling overwhelmed. These are skills I now use back at school, and I’ve seen a noticeable difference in how I manage my work and home time.
Global Summers Academy gave me so much more than just a regular summer school experience. I learned so many new skills, like confidence, time management, independence, responsibility, and budgeting. I now feel so much better prepared for my future whether in post secondary or onwards. If you’re a high school student thinking about signing up for Global Summers, I can honestly say it is very worth it. You will come out of it with improved skills in responsibility, independence, and navigating social situations, amazing friends, and unique and incredible experiences! For me, it’s been the best decision I’ve made in high school so far!
Thank you to Student Ambassador Ruby K. for writing this blog post!
