By Angel Beets
Special to NKyTribune
For someone who had never traveled outside of the United States, a two-week trip to China was the last thing soon-to-be high school senior Claire James thought she would be doing this summer. However, when the opportunity arose through Beechwood High School, she couldn’t turn it down.
“I’m interested in studying international relations or international business in college and after I looked at the itinerary for this trip it was just too cool of an experience to not go,” said Claire.
When Dr. Mike Stacy stepped into his role as the Superintendent of Beechwood Independent Schools he had many goals. Ensuring his students were competent and well-versed in the area of globalization was one of them.
With an increasingly globally competitive world, Stacy knew it was important for a small school like Beechwood to give its students a strong edge when they entered college and beyond.
“In today’s global world, educating our students must go far beyond the usual standards,” said Stacy. “In order for them to compete with their peers from around the world, they must have language skills and a deep understanding of other cultures. Our goal is to not only immerse our students in this area, but to spark a passion that will lead them to future experiences and growth.”
At the beginning of the 2016 school year, Beechwood partnered with the Confucius Institute at the University of Kentucky’s International Center. Through this partnership, Beechwood has been able to host two teachers from China who instruct students in grades K-6 three times a week in Mandarin Chinese language and culture, with a plan to expand classes into the high school grades in the coming years.
In December, Dr. Stacy traveled to China to sign a “sister school” agreement with Daning International Elementary School and Gaoxian No. 1 High School. Behind the agreement was the intention to create an exchange program between Beechwood students and students from China.
That intention came to light this summer when Claire and three of her other soon-to-be senior classmates -— LeeAnn Haney, Grace Jackson, and Tanner Stacy -— traveled to three cities in China, accompanied by Beechwood teachers Mark O’Connor and Holly Pitts. Twenty-eight other students from across Kentucky joined the educational exchange as the group traveled to Shanghai, Xi’an, and Bejing.
During their two weeks the students and teachers were able to explore each of the cities and visited numerous historical and famous sites, including the Classical Gardens of Suzhou, a city about 62 miles from Shanghai, the Shaanxi Museum in Xi’an, the Forbidden City and the Terracota Soldiers near the Emperor’s Tomb in Bejing, and, of course, The Great Wall of China. The students took classes on the University of Shanghai’s campus and studied Chinese language, martial arts, calligraphy, music, and culture.
“Though the sights were amazing, actually my favorite part was getting to see and experience the everyday aspects of China,” said teacher Mark O’Connor. “From eating in the dining hall at Shanghai University to seeing the students on campus to seeing the people and cars and buildings, it was all very fascinating to me.”
The students were able to interact with high school students at a more urban school in Shanghai and a rural high school in Xi’an. At times language seemed to be a barrier but starting a quick game of soccer or basketball or playing a card game reminded all the students they weren’t so different after all
“We really learned that a smile is a universal symbol,” said Claire “My favorite part was definitely meeting kids my age and seeing how their lives were different from ours, but also how they were the same.”
O’Connor sees strong benefits for the students who went on the trip as well, and believes it will help shape and broaden their perspectives of the world as a whole.
“They will see that America and its culture is one part of the world and that there are many more aspects to it,” he said. “Drive, individuality, and goodness in people is something that transcends geography, and understanding how we all fit into the world makes us wiser and more thoughtful people.”
As for Claire, this trip has definitely encouraged her love for the world and travel in general.
“I can’t wait to take more language and culture classes in college,” she said. “And I am already anticipating where I will go next. I’m definitely ready to get back out there and see more of the world.”
