Summer is often a time for students to take advantage of their free time and explore opportunities, may it be helping people in need, experiencing new cultures, or building a résumé.
Sophomore Cassidy Mechalske will participate in Project Abraham, a week-long mission trip in San Jose, Costa Rica, created by Leesburg’s St. James Church. Mechalske will participate in Project Abraham for the second time beginning at the end of June.
“Our church group goes into a school orphanage and teaches the kids,” Mechalske said. “This year we are focusing on nature, music, art, and colors. Those who choose to also work on the construction aspect. They are working to build a stadium for the kids to play sports and also improve the school.”
Mechalske credits community service to teaching her how precious life is as well as giving her a new perspective of the world.
“I am looking forward to seeing the kids I met and fell in love with last year,” Mechalske said. “Meeting new kids will also be a fun experience.”
Junior Anna Stormoen will also travel abroad this summer. In late June, she will take a plane from Dulles to Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, from which she will fly into Geneva, Switzerland. Then, she will take a 40-minute train or car ride to a French town for a four-week stay.
“I will be able to visit Lyon, the place of birth of Antione de Saint-Exupery, who wrote ‘Le Petit Prince’ which we read this year in IB French,” Stormoen said.
Stormoen plans to live with a host family in Talloires, France for a month while receiving an accredited French education. She is one of 30 students worldwide selected by Tufts University to partake in the program, which will be taught entirely in French.
“While I’m there, I’ll take French and International Relations courses through Tufts University,” Stormoen said. “Along with taking the classes, I am able to take excursions. I’m looking forward to hiking overnight in the Alps and improving my French.”
While Stormoen will immerse herself in the French culture, junior Nojan Hajiabassi will take a different approach to summer vacation by participating in a campaign internship.
“I am going to help around the office and out in the field with political events,” Hajiabassi said. “Government and political science have always been an interest of mine. The internship is for the Democratic Party and, since 2013 is an election year in Virginia, I will be working for the governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general campaigns.”
Internships provide a preview for the real world and it gives a first-hand look at careers students may want to pursue.
“I think students are much more savvy these days and are out there making great contacts in the community,” career center specialist Karen Burke said. “Again, any experience is good experience, it’s important to know what a job really entails and whether or not you’ll like it as a long term career.”
