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The Public Response to Thinking Beyond Borders

Chris Stakich has been traveling across the USA meeting with high school headmasters, students, parents, college guidance counselors, and deans of admissions to introduce and discuss Thinking Beyond Borders. Whether in Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, California, or Maryland, there has been one consistent theme –everyone is excited about the TBB program and curriculum.

So far, each group of people favors a specific aspect of the program. Headmasters and college guidance counselors understand the importance of the specific curriculum and clear educational message that is woven into the entire experience. Deans of admissions value the “Translating Learning into Action” ingredient because of the practical skills learned before beginning college. Parents have established confidence in TBB because of the staff’s depth of experience as well as the geographic diversity and safe reputation of the core educational countries. Students have been overwhelmingly excited about learning outside the classroom, experiencing new cultures, picking up foreign languages, and expanding their minds before college.

After a visit to University School in Cleveland, Ohio, Headmaster Steve Murray said:

In a recent presentation to our student body, Chris hit upon the tremendously important notion that our students need to be prepared to encounter and adapt to a rapidly changing global landscape. With this in mind, it is clear to me as an educator that a gap year is no longer a luxury for a small number of high school grads who did not get into their preferred college. A Gap Year spent with an organization like Thinking Beyond Borders will equip a young person with essential skills and experiences to thrive in and make the most of a challenging world.

Thinking Beyond Borders is going beyond the traditional Gap Year. TBB is not for students who are trying to find their way, who didn’t get into the college of their choice, or who are looking to tune their athletic or mental abilities before college. Thinking Beyond Borders is a specific educational program designed for the most motivated students who truly want to understand the world we live in so they can excel throughout their college careers and beyond.

Headmaster Doug Lagarde from the Severn School commented on this idea, as well:

With perspective comes a broader and more nuanced understanding of people and the issues the world will face in the coming decades. Because of the busy lives young people live today, few get the opportunity to step back and gain the perspective that Thinking Beyond Borders can provide. With traditional academic learning on hold for a year, a student can encounter first-hand the question with which his or her generation will have to grapple and be better prepared to help furnish solutions.

Thinking Beyond Borders will visit a total of 125 schools across the United States, public and private, as well as with various youth leadership organizations. If you would like TBB to visit your school or youth leadership organization, please contact Chris Stakich at chris@thinkingbeyondborders.org.

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