1. Hi Rebecca, tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from, and what were you doing before joining THINK Global School?

My life has been defined by global education. At age 17, I graduated from my high school in Alabama and went straight into a gap year in Türkiye before starting college. This initial experience set me on a path that led me across the globe to pursue a career in international education. I have led experiential learning programs for students at Georgetown’s campus in Qatar, managed American students studying abroad in Azerbaijan, and built and managed global gap year programs at EF Education First. Along the way I got my master’s in Global Studies in Germany, with semesters in Argentina and Thailand. In retrospect, all of these experiences seemed to be leading me down the perfect path to now be a part of the remarkable TGS community. While I still enjoy a global life, I love being rooted now in Southern Maine.

2. If you could make one major change to global education, what would it be?

The first would be making it more accessible, so that students of all backgrounds are able to have transformative global experiences. Beyond that, I would love for more students to experience life outside of the major cities of another country. The so-called “second cities,” rural areas, and more off-the-beaten-path locations can teach students so much about the depth of culture and what everyday life really looks like in other parts of the world.

3. What aspects of THINK Global School’s educational model do you find most appealing?

While it is curiosity about global travel that often leads a student to TGS in the first place, I love that the TGS curriculum is just as much focused on teaching students about themselves as it is on teaching them about the world around them. The amount of introspection, self-discovery, and personal transformation that is embedded in the TGS experience allows students to connect even more deeply to the incredible locations they are experiencing on their travels.

4. Which of our core values do you feel you most embody, and why?

Satya – “Live truth – in a way that is honest, steadfast, and uplifting to others” – really resonates with me. I believe that if each of us can individually develop the self-awareness to be our truest selves, then we can best support the people around us in our own unique way.

5. Do you have any hobbies that you are passionate about?

I love keeping my mind and body active! I will take any opportunity to explore the world around me, from hiking far-away mountains to kayaking around the islands here in Maine. I have actively practiced yoga for a long time, and am finishing up my yoga teacher training now. I am an avid potter, gardener, and reader. And of course, I love any activity that involves making or eating food!

6. What is your most memorable travel experience thus far?

It is hard to pick just one, but visiting Tierra del Fuego on the southernmost tip of Argentina will always be near the top of the list. From horseback riding across the wilderness to visiting a penguin colony on a remote island in the middle of the ocean, this trip was truly one where I experienced the magic of our world.

7. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Visiting Easter Island has long been a dream of mine. Remote as it is, one day I will make it there!

8. What is your favorite book, and why?

I truly cannot pick favorites. But here are a couple of books I’ve read recently that will stick with me. On the non-fiction side, Pico Iyer’s Autumn Light: Season of Fire and Farewells is a gorgeous meditation on life as a foreigner in Japan and how it interweaves with the cycles of life. On the fiction side, Martyr! By Kaveh Akbar was one of the most wild, gripping, and original stories I’ve read in a long time.