Shreya Reddy ’13, Anthony Thai ’13: Episcopal has sent a growing number of students on foreign exchange programs to experience the culture of other countries; however, despite an abundance of programs, a significantly low amount of students have taken advantage of these opportunities.
Since Headmaster L. Hamilton Clark started the exchange program with the Central Coast Grammar School in Sydney, Australia in 2002, the program has grown to include numerous programs on multiple continents. The Bishop and Herschel schools in Cape Town, South Africa and the Northeast Yucai School in Shenyang, China, now in its fourth year, are two of the more recently added programs.
Episcopal also started a partnership with the American Secondary Schools for International Students and Teachers (ASSIST) program that sent two students to Episcopal last year.
During the course of the exchange experience, students spend eight weeks abroad and host an exchange student, who will attend Episcopal for the same length of time, later in the fall.
Should students fail to take advantage of these opportunities, not only may the future of Episcopal’s study abroad program be jeopardized, but high school students will also be unable to engage in culturally enriching experiences.
“These unique foreign exchange programs allow students to make new friends, experience a new culture, and develop their independence all at the same time,” said Andrew Hess, Upper School history teacher and Director of the Foreign Exchange Program. “Students need to be more independent in college and going on these foreign exchange trips really helps them with their decision-making skills.”
This past year, three students from the junior class spent their summers abroad studying in Australia. Connie Maltby ’14, who ventured down under, noted that “the thought of living on the other side of the world by myself, being able to go to beaches, meeting tons of new people, and the fact that this opportunity wouldn’t come around again” prompted her to take advantage of the study abroad program. Upon recollecting her most memorable moments, Maltby mentioned an instance in which she and her host mother climbed the top of the tallest building in Australia, known as Q1, while in the Gold Coast.
Caroline Purtill ’14 journeyed to South Africa this summer and had the opportunity to walk cheetahs, feed elephants, and jump off the world’s highest bungee jumping bridge. Purtill noted that she connected with people from India, England, Australia, and even Maryland and Canada while she was abroad. “I’ll be racing my friends from Canada at the Stotesbury Regatta this year and meeting up with a friend from Maryland when our South African exchange students arrive.”
Moreover, students who go abroad for a few weeks and fully immerse themselves in a country’s culture will not only learn about the country itself, but also about themselves. All three juniors highlighted the fact that they had grown more independent during their time abroad.
At an institution in which studying abroad is viewed with such optimism, students must not be afraid to take a chance to gain global insight through firsthand experience. With the school year upon us, students who may have even a slight interest in the program are encouraged to communicate with former participants to learn more about studying abroad.
As Hess said, “We are always looking to expand our program, but we are governed by the fact that only a limited number of students want to participate.”

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