This summer, from June 19-28, five students will travel to Greece for a nine-day study abroad program focused on classical literature. Led by English Department Head Dorielys Guerra, the trip will offer honors English credit and combine English and history curriculum through works such as Homer’s Iliad, Aeschylus’s Agamemnon, and Ovid’s Metamorphoses.
After arriving in Athens, Greece, they will cruise through various islands, walking through the very locations they will learn about. Notably, the Oracle at Delphi, an iconic setting for archaic Greek literature such as Oedipus Rex.
“To know that we are going to be able to go and walk around the ruins of the Oracle at Delphi, and say you are there, lived it, saw it, felt it, you will be moved by what you see there, ” Guerra said.
Guerra initially had the idea to create this educational opportunity after she chaperoned a school trip to Greece during spring break of the 2023-2024 academic school year. The trip allowed students and faculty the ability to walk through history in a transformative and enlightening way. Through the upcoming trip, students will be able to feel one with the writers, bridging the gap between the present and the past.
“You realize the pivotal role that the Greeks played in invention, the foundation of democracy, in scientific discovery, I mean the kids studying rhetoric in AP English Lang, guess what, that logic comes from the Greeks,” Guerra said.
Moreover, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Don Lawrence added his support, recognizing the value in a multicultural and foundational understanding of global literature.
“The beauty of blending academic study with real-world interactions encourages students to think critically, be exposed to and process different perspectives, and develop the skills necessary to engage in a global world,” Lawrence said.
Additionally, this exploratory opportunity has left some students inspired and excited for their future. Senior Vera Lopresti speaks to how she is fascinated by this opportunity, yet excited for her plans in university.
“I am looking forward to studying abroad in college; I would have loved to be part of such an interesting program,” Lopresti said.
