In the Summer of 2024, a group of 19 Wimbledon High students and staff set off on an epic three-week adventure to Costa Rica. Here is what Pola in Y12 had to say about the trip:

‘When people ask me how the Costa Rica expedition was and I reply, ‘surreal’ or ‘unforgettable’, I don’t that think the limits of my language can quite get through to them just how extraordinary it really was; I can’t encapsulate the warmth of the new friendships I made as well as the strengthening of my previous ones, the endless beauty you saw with every step you took through Costa Rica’s nature, the glorious food and culture, the spirit and glee of the locals, in addition to the refreshing silence in your mind from leaving your phone on the other side of the world – I can’t encapsulate this into a succinct sentence or phrase or word, and still do the experience justice. If only I could show the person asking me step by step, blink by blink what Costa Rica was really like…

If you’re a student and feeling a bit on the fence about whether to do a trip like this, let this be what pushes you over the edge: that you’ll go on a trip that will leave you at a loss for words. That is something truly special, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity waiting for you that can – without exaggeration or cliché – change your life and worldview, which was certainly the case for me.’

Pola K
Y12

Trips that take students out of their comfort zone have long been part of the WHS experience ( see the photos below from our Archives). Some of our alumnae reflect on the impact they have had on them:

Vera (Class of 2021):

‘My trip to Bolivia in 2019 will always be a treasured memory for me. Not only did I experience an incredible culture and build strong friendships, but I also gained many valuable life skills. The trip made me a more outgoing and confident person which made the transition to university easier.’

Laksha (Class of 2020):

‘Going on the expedition taught me to view the world from a different perspective and to appreciate the world that we take for granted. It also taught me the importance of trusting the people that you’re with and most importantly resilience. It showed me what I was capable of.’

Mirabelle (Class of 2017):

‘I wasn’t the most obvious person to go (on this kind of trip) and I surprised a lot of my friends by going, but I’d say it was one of the single most important things I’ve chosen to do that has shaped me as a person and given me a great confidence in the world.’

Isey (Class of 2015):

‘I have always had an interest in travelling and having been learning Spanish, Peru was a great fit. I enjoyed getting to know new people and creating lots of lasting memories. Since then I lived in Guatemala for 6 months and I now have lived in Chicago for over 2 years, having moved here alone. The experience of that trip helped me become more independent but in a supported environment.’

Isobel (Class of 2014):

‘When I went to Peru in Y12 in 2013 it was the longest time I had ever been away from home. A year and a half later, when I was settling into university, I realised that my time away in Peru had prepared me well for being away from home, managing my own worries, learning to live alongside other young people, making decisions and planning my budgets. It also gave me the confidence to travel independently, plan a trip and understand my own limits. In consequence, my experiences in Peru have given me the confidence to embrace the opportunity to explore and learn more about the world.‘