A True Travel Changes Lives Story: Max Chwatko and voyagED

My name is Max Chwatko, I’m 17 years old, and I’m a senior at Horace Greeley High School in New York. I’ve always loved traveling with my mom, hanging out with my friends, playing with my dogs and cats, and watching movies. But I never expected that travel, something that began simply as something fun, would become such a defining part of who I am, or lead me to start voyagED, a nonprofit dedicated to giving students the chance to experience the world.

My most transformative trip happened in February 2024, when I traveled with ACIS to Spain. I knew I’d learn a lot, but I didn’t realize how deeply it would impact me. Our guide, Anna, had this incredible way of weaving history, daily life, and culture together. Through her stories, I understood Spain in a way no textbook ever could. I remember walking through the Jewish Quarter in Seville, struck by how much history lived in those narrow streets, history I never expected to encounter there.

The trip changed me. It opened my eyes not just to another culture, but to new ways of thinking and living. Being immersed in Spanish life, even for a short time, gave me space to reflect on my own world. It shifted my perspective, sparked curiosity, and made everything feel a little bigger and a little more possible.

That feeling is what inspired me to create voyagED. I wanted other students, no matter their background or financial circumstances, to have access to experiences that expand their horizons in the same way.

This year, we awarded our first two scholarships to ACIS travelers, something that still doesn’t feel real. And this is only the beginning. I imagine voyagED growing into a network of student-led chapters, raising funds, learning about global cultures, and making travel possible for more and more teenagers.

Travel has shaped my future in more ways than I can count. It’s taught me independence, confidence, openness, and gratitude. I’ve been lucky to travel to places like Iceland, England, Ireland, France, Denmark, Costa Rica, and more. Each trip gave me a different lesson, sometimes through big moments and sometimes through tiny ones, like eating gelato in Italy, walking 30,000 steps through Amsterdam, or trying new foods that tell their own story.

I’ve learned that the world is the best classroom. Travel teaches problem-solving, empathy, resilience, and how to see life from perspectives far different from your own. It challenges you to step into the unfamiliar and trust yourself. It slows you down, makes you more mindful, and gives you a deep sense of gratitude for both the world around you and the life you return to.

Most of all, Travel Changes Lives because it reminds us that every place, and every person, has something to teach us, if we’re willing to listen. With voyagED, I hope to help more students experience that kind of growth. The kind that stays with you long after the passport stamps fade. The kind that makes you see yourself,and the world,a little differently

About voyagED

voyagED’s mission is simple: to enable all students to learn about, experience and share the joy of travel. voyagED aims to make travel accessible for students who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Through partnerships, scholarships and fundraising, the 501c3 organization helps young travelers embark on transformative journeys. Whether it’s an educational tour through Europe, a cultural exchange in South America, or even an adventure with classmates to Disneyworld, voyagED was founded with the belief that the world is truly the best classroom. You can donate to the voyagED scholarship fund here.

The ACIS Scholarship Contest

Each year, ACIS offers students the chance to employ their creativity to earn up to $2,500 in ACIS travel funds.

The 2026 Scholarship theme is Common Ground: When traveling abroad, we often spot cultural differences first. How can we find commonalities that unite us?

Learn more about the ACIS Scholarship