WORLD IS A CLASSROOM

Do you have a story to tell about your favorite trip, and what you learned from it? Perhaps you experienced how different it is to live in France while visiting Paris with your high school French class? How about the time you learned Canadian history while traveling to one of the country’s national monuments? Maybe you learned about conservation efforts while visiting your local aquarium!

Students who write an essay describing what they learned and how they were impacted by travel could earn a cash scholarship of up to $1,500.00 USD! The other top four essay entries will also receive a cash scholarship of $1,000.00 USD! The SYTA Youth Foundation offers scholarships to students who use their creativity to compose an article or speech that illustrates a student travel experience.

The World is a Classroom Essay Contest was created in recognition of Ripley Hunter, Co-Founder and Past Chair of the SYTA Youth Foundation for his commitment and dedication to changing young lives through travel.

The 2024 application period is now closed. Winners were contacted in late June.

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

Guidelines

2024 WINNER AND FINALISTS

Congratulations to Vincent Shen for being named the 2024 World Is a Classroom Essay Contest Winner!

Winner – Vincent Shen

Durham, NC

Winning Essay

“It’s hard for many of us to survive,” our guide says quietly, a grave look darkening her initial easy smile. High up in the quiet, sun-dappled hills of the Tilarán mountains in northern Costa Rica, we gathered around young, green coffee trees. An earthy aroma of freshly ground coffee wafted alongside the breeze. Since arriving in Costa Rica, my family and I have been enchanted, impressed, and awestruck by the overflowing nature, cultural beauty, and laid-back, “pura vida” lifestyle of the locals. Immersing myself in the majestic waterfalls and lush rainforests, the diverse food scene, and the unrivaled warmth and friendliness of Costa Ricans has captivated me. Costa Rica had felt like a utopian paradise – a country free of violence, struggle, and instability, with no standing army since 1949. I used to think that “pura vida” was just a phrase plastered on tacky rainforest postcards, but now, I truly understand, experience, and have even embraced the natural, relaxed, and inexplicably simple approach to life of Costa Ricans. But my focus shifted as our guide at the coffee plantation continued. “Picking coffee beans every day is exhausting. We barely make enough money,” she says softly. It was then that I realized that the picturesque, picture-perfect image of Costa Rica often overshadowed the stories of those who worked laboriously to create that image. After the coffee tour, it hit me powerfully that, as with anywhere, with progress comes its sacrifices. Costa Rica: a pioneer in sustainability, yet affected by unlivable wages; home to rich and sweet Arabica coffee, yet requiring long and grueling hours of coffee-picking; a touristic painting of paradise, but a less idealistic reality for everyday Costa Ricans. I deeply admired the unparalleled beauty and uniqueness of Costa Rica and its people, but at the same time, I resonated with the powerful, authentic narratives of the ordinary coffee pickers who worked from dawn to dusk, serving as the backbone of the nation’s economy and culture. My time in Costa Rica was transformative, cultivating in me an appreciation and desire to seek out the rich, day-to-day stories of those leading vastly different lives than me. It made me value the preciousness of humanity, celebrating and cherishing the individual stories that make the nation of Costa Rica whole. Local shopkeepers greeting me with the warmth of my favorite aunt, taxi drivers sharing stories about their colorful childhoods like we were old friends, and my fellow spectators smiling and laughing with me during Carnaval have deepened my love and admiration for the lives of everyday ticos – Costa Ricans. Even more than the breathtaking sights and incredible culture of Costa Rica, the everyday stories that serve as the foundation for this remarkably beautiful nation will forever resonate with me. When I travel, I hope to learn, amplify, and preserve the unique individual stories that give the world its beauty, color, and spice, fostering deeper, more human connections across different cultures. Inspired by my warm, cheerful coffee guide in Monteverde, Costa Rica, thousands of miles away, I am committed to documenting the stories of the world, starting within my own community.

Watch Vincent’s Video