The Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s definition of “immerse” is: “to plunge into something that surrounds or covers.” Students at St. Ursula Academy (SUA) see immersing themselves into local, regional and international communities as building on the holistic educational experience each student receives at the school.

“As a school community, we have a global creative learning environment because we feel that learning about the whole world, as we are educating girls as a whole person, helps empower them to build a better world when they graduate,” said Jill Cahill, Vice President of Communications at SUA.

For 10 days in June, SUA students engaged with residents throughout Costa Rica. This was the first time rising seniors Lauren Spencer and Isabelle Walker traveled abroad for an immersion trip, but was the ninth visit to Central America by teacher and group leader, Mark Simcoe.

“I see a lot of value for the students attending,” said Simcoe. “I also can share things I know as well, bring a lot back to my classroom and apply to my curriculum.”

The group visited several locations throughout Costa Rica, including the Church of San Francisco, and traveled to La Carpio, an impoverished area near San José that is home to the largest Nicaraguan immigrant community in Costa Rica. They also visited Casa Hogar La Esperanza (House of Hope)—a group supporting those living with HIV/AIDS and drug addiction.

“When we were in La Carpio, we saw their water conditions—their sewer system is insufficient and there is a landfill basically in their backyard,” said Spencer. “Seeing how they live made me realize how much I take for granted in my life. The things that they worry about every day are things I never thought about until I witnessed it firsthand.”

“The House of Hope was really neat because it was easy to jump into a conversation with everyone there,” said Walker. “They were so friendly. I worked on my Spanish with them and they loved that I was even trying. They were open about their stories and answered all the questions that we had.”

For the first time, the SUA group also traveled to the town of Boruca, home to indigenous Boruca people who keep their culture alive through their art and traditions.

“It was a rural, quiet and serene community— they have a calmer pace of life there,” said Simcoe.

Reflecting on this immersion, students said they feel more equipped to serve others, at home and afar. “This trip made me realize how fortunate our lives are here in America— the government we have for allowing us to have free speech and other opportunities they might not have,” said Walker.

“We learned about all these issues going on and while we can’t do everything, we can help a little bit … that is really important,” added Spencer. “I hope others can see that too. By doing the smallest things, [we] can help people in other countries who are a little less fortunate than we are. It’s important to get involved and help out the best we can.”

This article appeared in the August 2023 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.