What inspired you to work for ISSOS International?
I was in my final year at the university of St Andrews and a friend in the running club passed on their details. I love the town of St Andrews and I was keen to work with teenagers. After looking through their social media, I was taken aback by how much fun everyone was having thought this was the place for me. They felt a real sense of community.
Describe a typical day at work.
It starts bright and early, arriving before the students come down for breakfast to make sure teachers are prepared for classes and students are up and well. Once the students are fed and off to their classes, the morning involves having a meeting with the counselors to go over the day ahead and work through any concerns or questions they have. After the meeting, I will help to map out the next few days, be available for staff to speak to and support or visit academic classes. After lunch, the afternoon is similarly spent planning and reacting to any arising issues or visiting the elective classes. The students come back after class and can pick a range of activities to their preference before dinner. The evening programmes are wide ranging and differ every night. After making sure students are settled at halls, the daily report is completed before heading to bed.
A performance from the staff
Why do you do what you do?
I love working with people and the energy that ISSOS gives you. It is amazing to meet so many different people and seeing how much each contributes to the community. ISSOS really feels like a family. Everyone looks out for one another and it feels like a safe place to express yourself and share with others.
What is your favorite part of your job?
The people. Everyone has a fresh perspective, unique skill sets and it is such a supportive atmosphere. Anything feels possible. People don’t dwell on what isn’t working, but think of creative ways to make things happen. Seeing others grow and shine is an unbelievable feeling. It is incredible to see and hear about each person’s journey.
An action packed evening programme
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Embrace the unknown. You will learn so much when you challenge yourself. Let other people share their stories with you and their experiences. You have so much to gain from them. And you also have so much to share with them. Let down your guard and be who you truly are. When you let your guard down, others feel comfortable to do so too.
Why should someone choose ISSOS International over competitors?
ISSOS has the right balance between learning and having fun. It strives to make sure that there is a wide range of nationalities and this challenges students to push outside their comfort zones and the usual strides of their day to day lives. It builds connections all across the globe. Both the academic and elective classes have lots of options and evening programmes are full on- there is a little bit of everything for everyone.
Having too much fun to take serious photos
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
ISSOS strives to provide an experience of a lifetime. It wants to give students the opportunity to feel safe amongst others, to build their confidence, skills and their community. It wants to celebrate each other’s differences and how each of these differences makes us stronger as a team. To encourage students to engage with the world beyond their own city or country.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I would hope participants would build friendships that last them a life time. That the beautiful locations help create memories and experiences that fill them with happiness. I hope that participants come away with skills not only from their classes, but from the activities they take part in and living away from home.
Returning staff and students
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Experiencing new cultures gives you the chance to reflect on your own culture. It allows you to see that the world is made up of so many perspectives. It can give you appreciation of how each place has its own unique history and nature and how people engage with it. Sharing with others your culture and sharing in theirs allows us to celebrate our differences.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel involves both planning and also letting yourself be swept away by the moment. Planning, reading and researching can help create excitement whilst going with the moment lets you be submerged by the culture and journeying off the track. Meaningful travel is taking the time to step away from your day to day life and deliberately deciding to do something different.
