From October 1-12, 2013, five Collingwood School students participated in the Round Square International Conference 2013 in Boca Raton, Florida as well as a pre-conference at the Island School in the Bahamas. Collingwood School is a member school of Round Square and every year our school sends delegates to participate in Regional and International Conferences. At international conferences, more than a hundred member schools worldwide come together to learn and focus on the Round Square IDEALS. This year, the conference was held at Saint Andrew's School and the theme was Waves of Change. The conference was centred around the topic of challenging young people to enact positive change within their communities and around the world. During our stay, we listened to many inspiring Keynote speakers such as Adam Braun, the founder of Pencils for Promise and Marc and Craig Kielburger (the founders of Me to We and Free the Children) and we participated in a diverse array of collaborative activities on campus and within the South Florida community. Some of the activities that we participated in include a Habitat for Humanity project, alligator spotting at the Everglades, and beach cleanups. As well, we were put into baraza groups for discussion and participation in entrepreneurial workshops. We were able to learn what our counterparts are doing in their communities all while being inspired to enact more change within our own communities.
Before our conference, we participated in a five day pre-conference with two other schools at the Island School in the Bahamas. The Island School is an amazing institution dedicated to environmentalism, research, and outreach. The school offers programs for high school students where they can spend a semester learning about sustainability, marine biology, and environmentalism. During our stay, we were able to participate in a variety of activities such as dissecting lionfish, attending lectures on the effect of policy on research, and participating in a plastic survey. We were able to learn so much in the area of marine biology and we were inspired to make more sustainable choices in our everyday life. We also participated in a service day with the local Bahamian children, helping with reading and math. Many of us made lasting friendships all while learning more about the environment, sustainability, and Bahamian culture.
- Cherry Zhi '15
Before our conference, we participated in a five day pre-conference with two other schools at the Island School in the Bahamas. The Island School is an amazing institution dedicated to environmentalism, research, and outreach. The school offers programs for high school students where they can spend a semester learning about sustainability, marine biology, and environmentalism. During our stay, we were able to participate in a variety of activities such as dissecting lionfish, attending lectures on the effect of policy on research, and participating in a plastic survey. We were able to learn so much in the area of marine biology and we were inspired to make more sustainable choices in our everyday life. We also participated in a service day with the local Bahamian children, helping with reading and math. Many of us made lasting friendships all while learning more about the environment, sustainability, and Bahamian culture.
- Cherry Zhi '15
“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” - Joshua J. Marine
The experiences I’ve had on this Round Square trip have taught and exposed me to a great range of new, exotic, and challenging things. Having never really been on other school trips of this magnitude or length, I found that going on this one was quite a daunting task, and more so a huge risk. As I struggled to juggle school work, college applications, and extra-curricular activities; at the time, going on this trip seemed like a big mistake, but I’m glad that I did. The diversity of ethnic and cultural backgrounds that I was exposed to was overwhelming and exciting; I have never met and spoken to so many different people before.
During the pre-conference, which was held in The Bahamas, I learned about sustainable environments—through the recycling of human and animal waste, marine biology—from the graduate students or researchers at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, and conservation of resources—by taking “navy-showers” every day in the dorms we slept in. At the conference, I learned about leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation through our workshops and presentations. I learned about service, the environment, and adventure through our day-activities at the Habitat for Humanity site, the Everglades Park, and a local college recreation center. I heard some amazing stories about people and communities around the world who made differences through small acts of change, and I was inspired by the words of the founder of KIVA, Jessica Jackley, and founders of Free the Children, Mark and Craig Keilburger.
The things that I saw, heard, tasted, and touched were unforgettable. The lessons I learned from this trip will last with me for a long time to come. The quote above really demonstrates one of the most important lessons that I’ve learned from and was focused on in various forms during this trip. I think that anyone who is willing to take a risk, step out of their comfort zone, see new things, meet new people, and ultimately learn way more than they could ever imagine to in two weeks time should go on a Round Square trip.
- Tyentyen Chen, '14
My experience at the Round Square conference changed my outlook to everyday life. My favourite part of the Round Square international conference at St. Andrew's school was meeting people from all over the globe. Through this experience, I grew my relationship internationally and made new friends from over 60 different countries. I met people and became instant friends from South Africa, Switzerland, Japan, Columbia, Australia, Kenya and more. By making new friends, I was able to learn more about their culture and how differently they live and talk compared to us. Another favourite moment was when we were volunteering at a Bahamian middle school where we helped the student in math and reading. My knowledge about Bahamanian and its country changed after I talked to the students. I can still remember their names and will treasure this life changing experience forever.
- Sara Choi, '15
The international Round Square Conference 2013 in Boca Raton, Florida as well as a pre-conference at the Island School in the Bahamas was such an amazing experience and I learnt so much and I am so excited to bring what I learned back to Collingwood school’s Round Square program!. One of my main highlights was meeting students with the same passion of service and living by the Round Square IDEALS from member schools worldwide. This year, the conference was held at Saint Andrew's School and the theme was Waves of Change. We got the chance to listen to many inspiring Keynote speakers such as and Marc and Craig Kielburger (the founders of Me to We and Free the Children) who I personally look up to and got the pleasure to hear some more inspiring messages that they shared with us about creating positive change in our communities and overseas. In this conference we got to participate in many service projects in both the Bahamas and Florida which both stood out as my main highlights for the trip. In the Bahamas we got to go to local schools and read and talk with the children at these schools as well as participate in a beach cleanup with the middle school. In Florida we did a Habitat for humanity project and a cleanup of a protected environmental area. In the Bahamas the island school we very much so centered around sustainability and I learnt so much about conserving energy and about local problems in the marine environment in the Bahamas. We got to experience hands on, marine biology this consisted of: fishing, snorkeling, and dissecting a lion fish (Which is a very invasive species in this area of Eluthra Bahamas). I strongly encourage anyone who attends Collingwood to take the time to go on a round square conference because the knowledge you gain can both help you give back and the memories you shared develop friendships with people from around the world.
- Silver McLaughlin, '15
The experiences I’ve had on this Round Square trip have taught and exposed me to a great range of new, exotic, and challenging things. Having never really been on other school trips of this magnitude or length, I found that going on this one was quite a daunting task, and more so a huge risk. As I struggled to juggle school work, college applications, and extra-curricular activities; at the time, going on this trip seemed like a big mistake, but I’m glad that I did. The diversity of ethnic and cultural backgrounds that I was exposed to was overwhelming and exciting; I have never met and spoken to so many different people before.
During the pre-conference, which was held in The Bahamas, I learned about sustainable environments—through the recycling of human and animal waste, marine biology—from the graduate students or researchers at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, and conservation of resources—by taking “navy-showers” every day in the dorms we slept in. At the conference, I learned about leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation through our workshops and presentations. I learned about service, the environment, and adventure through our day-activities at the Habitat for Humanity site, the Everglades Park, and a local college recreation center. I heard some amazing stories about people and communities around the world who made differences through small acts of change, and I was inspired by the words of the founder of KIVA, Jessica Jackley, and founders of Free the Children, Mark and Craig Keilburger.
The things that I saw, heard, tasted, and touched were unforgettable. The lessons I learned from this trip will last with me for a long time to come. The quote above really demonstrates one of the most important lessons that I’ve learned from and was focused on in various forms during this trip. I think that anyone who is willing to take a risk, step out of their comfort zone, see new things, meet new people, and ultimately learn way more than they could ever imagine to in two weeks time should go on a Round Square trip.
- Tyentyen Chen, '14
My experience at the Round Square conference changed my outlook to everyday life. My favourite part of the Round Square international conference at St. Andrew's school was meeting people from all over the globe. Through this experience, I grew my relationship internationally and made new friends from over 60 different countries. I met people and became instant friends from South Africa, Switzerland, Japan, Columbia, Australia, Kenya and more. By making new friends, I was able to learn more about their culture and how differently they live and talk compared to us. Another favourite moment was when we were volunteering at a Bahamian middle school where we helped the student in math and reading. My knowledge about Bahamanian and its country changed after I talked to the students. I can still remember their names and will treasure this life changing experience forever.
- Sara Choi, '15
The international Round Square Conference 2013 in Boca Raton, Florida as well as a pre-conference at the Island School in the Bahamas was such an amazing experience and I learnt so much and I am so excited to bring what I learned back to Collingwood school’s Round Square program!. One of my main highlights was meeting students with the same passion of service and living by the Round Square IDEALS from member schools worldwide. This year, the conference was held at Saint Andrew's School and the theme was Waves of Change. We got the chance to listen to many inspiring Keynote speakers such as and Marc and Craig Kielburger (the founders of Me to We and Free the Children) who I personally look up to and got the pleasure to hear some more inspiring messages that they shared with us about creating positive change in our communities and overseas. In this conference we got to participate in many service projects in both the Bahamas and Florida which both stood out as my main highlights for the trip. In the Bahamas we got to go to local schools and read and talk with the children at these schools as well as participate in a beach cleanup with the middle school. In Florida we did a Habitat for humanity project and a cleanup of a protected environmental area. In the Bahamas the island school we very much so centered around sustainability and I learnt so much about conserving energy and about local problems in the marine environment in the Bahamas. We got to experience hands on, marine biology this consisted of: fishing, snorkeling, and dissecting a lion fish (Which is a very invasive species in this area of Eluthra Bahamas). I strongly encourage anyone who attends Collingwood to take the time to go on a round square conference because the knowledge you gain can both help you give back and the memories you shared develop friendships with people from around the world.
- Silver McLaughlin, '15