ACIS Student Traveler Spotlight: Rachel D., Delaware

Rachel traveled with her school’s trip to the UK on ACIS’ Showtime itinerary in summer 2025! Learn more about the trip and how the experience impacted her.

1. Tell us more about yourself! What are your interests?

My name is Rachel, and I am a rising senior. I have always enjoyed history, and theater, particularly musicals, so I was very excited when I heard that my school would be taking a trip to London that was centered around history and theater, where we would have the opportunity to see several shows in the West End.

2. Looking back, what were your favorite or most memorable parts of your ACIS experience?

One of the most memorable parts of the trip were the dinners/lunches, where we all sat in a large group and engaged in conversation. It provided an opportunity to get to know some of my classmates who I previously had not talked with much, and led to some incredible laughs and inside jokes that I will treasure forever. I also so enjoyed the period of time immediately after seeing shows like Romeo & Juliet, Les Mis, and Wicked, where we all discussed our favorite parts of the show, and turned a moment of sadness (at the show being over) into one of reflection and excitement. 

3. Any fun stories from the trip to share?

One of my favorite moments of the trip was visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral. We climbed the stairs to the Whispering Gallery (257 steps in total) and spent a good deal of time up there. The Whispering Gallery is incredibly unique and awe-inspiring, because a whisper on one side of the dome can be heard on the other. A small group of us enjoyed listening to the conversations of the other group, and taking in the incredible sight of St. Paul’s Cathedral from the high vantage point. The best part of St. Paul’s Cathedral, however, was learning about its history from our Blue Badge tour guide, who shared his wealth of information with us, something that helped me further appreciate the age and stories of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

4. What was the biggest challenge you faced?

The biggest challenge I faced was the constant pace of the trip: In order to pack so much in, you are basically nonstop all day. To help myself with the long days (and nights), I made sure to take lots of photos and text my family so I could be reminded of how much fun the trip was, and how absolutely amazing it was that I was in London with the opportunity to see some of the most famous places in the world.

5. Did this trip affect your interests or choices for what you hope to study when you get to college?

I hope to study English in college, and this trip only further reinforced that for me, especially when we visited William Shakespeare’s birthplace. I have both performed in and read many of his plays, and walking on the very same stones where he first tread was an amazing experience, especially when followed by a trip to his school, where he would have learned to read, write, and pen his incredible stories. While in England, I also visited 4 bookstores, which was great fun, and allowed me to explore the stories and authors that the UK finds important and essential for both their adult readers and first-time nursery rhyme readers. I plan to teach English in my professional career, and feel that I have been greatly impacted by my experiences in England, and will carry that with me through college and beyond. 

6. What message would you share with younger students who may or may not be considering pursuing traveling outside the US?

While it is scary, stressful, and sometimes nerve-wracking to travel away from family and into a country where you are not familiar with customs (walk on the left side!), culture, and cuisine, it is also a rewarding experience that will stick with you. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to travel to England, and will remember it forever. It provided countless opportunities to learn more about the group of students I traveled with, offered adventure and excitement at every turn, and some super cool souvenirs. As a senior, I won’t be able to attend more of these trips, but it has encouraged me to consider study abroad when in college, and to pursue travel on my own, thanks to the incredible experiences I had while in England. If you are able to travel, do so, because it can reveal things about the world and yourself that were previously impossible to fathom.