In His Own Words...

Written by Owen Klepser, Class of ’24.

Throughout my time at Providence Day, I’ve always heard great things about the school’s global trips but hadn’t taken advantage of them. When I saw the information about a Round Square Big Build trip to rural Thailand come out, I saw it as my chance — a chance to finally step outside of my comfort zone and into the possibility of a new experience during my senior year.

As I stepped off the plane in Thailand during the holiday season, the nerves of the unknown hit me. I realized that I honestly had no clue where I was going, who I would meet, or what exactly I would be doing, all without the comfort of technology. However, within the first few days, I could answer all those questions. I’d been living with students from every corner of the world while working toward a common mission that’s greater than ourselves.

As the trip went on, it was these connections that I developed while immersing in another culture without the distractions of everyday life that ended up meaning the most to me. I learned that I didn’t just appreciate the mix of cultures from all over the world; I discovered my curiosity and fascination with other cultures. I considered this more and more as I took in the beauty of the surrounding Thai mountains with my new friends from Denmark, India, Kenya, and Australia.

Following my return to the U.S., it’s been tough to find just one big takeaway from this experience. But what I am sure of from my experiences is that the fear of the unknown is the only thing holding me back from learning more about the world and myself.