Belize: Global Leadership Field Study

At La Jolla Country Day School, we believe in the transformative power of contextualized and immersive travel experiences. In the 2024–25 school year, we deepened our annual leadership travel program for middle schoolers in Belize by launching a third-trimester Global Leadership elective with a field study component. 

Before traveling, seventh- and eighth-grade students spent three weeks getting to know each other, exploring the geography and culture of Belize, and familiarizing themselves with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They also began to examine their individual strengths and areas of growth, and explored ways to leverage their strengths collectively to contribute to the health and success of the group while traveling. 

While in Belize, students engaged deeply with UN SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water), and 15 (Life on Land). They investigated the world and learned to appreciate perspectives that differ from their own through activities like:

Throughout the field study, students were encouraged to notice what sparked their curiosity—whether it was a place, a social issue, a cultural practice, or a leadership model. They asked thoughtful questions, reflected on their observations, and began forming ideas rooted in genuine interest and inquiry. 

Back in the classroom, they communicated their ideas and took action by designing a Passion Project. This project challenges students to bridge their experience in Belize with their local community in San Diego by creating a cross-cultural analysis that reflects both places.

Over the course of the 12 weeks together, my colleagues and I have witnessed a transformation in each of our Middle School Global Leaders. They have gained confidence and demonstrated increased resilience and flexibility by embracing unfamiliar environments and new experiences. They have witnessed the commitment of community leaders in Belize and San Diego to initiatives addressing significant global issues, and have each begun to consider how their unique strengths and talents can contribute to effecting positive change in the world. We are immensely proud of the growth we have seen in each of our Middle School Global Leaders and look forward to witnessing their evolving leadership stories. 

Personal Reflection
Seventh grader Zora North participated in the Global Leadership program this year and shared her thoughts with the LJCDS community during the Parents Association meeting.

“When I signed up for the Belize elective class, I thought I was just going on a cool trip. What I didn’t realize was that I was stepping into a life-changing experience that would impact me in many ways. 

Not every moment was easy. I was homesick. I missed comfort, routine, my own bed. Thankfully, Mr. Mendez, Ms. Parker and Mrs. Peace helped me and my peers throughout the trip, especially on our most challenging days. I had to practice a growth mindset. And honestly? That’s when I grew the most.

We explored ancient Mayan ruins and learned about a culture that’s deeply rooted in history but still alive today. It made me think about how we carry our own histories, and how much we can learn when we listen, explore, and stay open to different ways of living life.

We didn’t just visit Belize—we experienced it. The food, the music, the conversations. I realized how much we share and how much we can appreciate our differences.

Now that we’re back, we’re creating passion projects to compare Belize and the U.S.—not just the facts, but the feelings, the values, the people. It’s helping me understand the world—and myself—in a whole new way.

Belize wasn’t just a trip. It was a journey. And I came back a better version of myself.”