Philosophy
One of the most unique and exciting aspects of the dynamic curriculum at St. Andrew's Upper School is the Junior Experience graduation requirement. When the Upper School was founded, the visionary faculty set out to make sure that our graduates would "become citizens of the world." Since then, the Junior Experience has evolved into a program which transforms our students as they apply their learning firsthand, develop global perspectives, and experience new languages and cultures.
Program
The Junior Experience graduation requirement states that a student must spend two weeks in a "dramatically different environment." Students complete their Junior Experience in the summer before or after their junior year. Each year, passionate St. Andrew's faculty members lead programs which stretch our students to challenge themselves whether culturally, physically, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually—or, more often than not, a combination of all of these. We believe the rigors and challenges of this program teach humility and compassion, hone leadership skills, build confidence and character, and instill enthusiasms that last a lifetime.
Any given summer, you might find St. Andrew's Upper School students:
• Taking salsa lessons while speaking fluent Spanish in Granada, Spain
• Translating classical texts while exploring the ancient ruins of the Neapolitan coast
• Volunteering to build houses with community members in the heart of Appalachia
• Absorbing the deep history and culture while speaking only Mandarin in bustling Beijing
• Eradicating invasive plant species while studying biodiversity in the Galapagos
• Exploring the natural world through artistic immersion in the Southern France
• Giving back through service while being immersed in the Navajo Nation
• Gaining global perspective while working in a refugee center in downtown Rome
In addition, students may propose an independent Junior Experience to be approved by a faculty committee. Outside of our incredible school-sponsored programs, our students have traveled independently to work with elephants in Thailand, live in villages in Fiji, experience tribal culture in Africa, live and work in inner-city America, and do service work around the globe.
To support the cost of the Junior Experience, students can choose to work as part of the Travel Scholarship Program beginning their freshman year. Their hours will be credited towards the cost of the Junior Experience. Additionally, students may choose to volunteer for the Travel Scholarship program and donate their hours to support other members of the community traveling on school-sponsored trips.