Traveler Stories
Travel is a thrill. It’s an adventure. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime memory in the making.
Going to France opened my eyes to the world and made me realize I wanted to travel with my job. I am willing to relocate anywhere for work now because of this trip. This year I leave for Germany for a year for a dual-degree study abroad program between Illinois State University and the University of Paderborn in Paderborn, Germany. If it wasn’t for my ACIS trip, I’d have no clue where I would be today or what I would be doing. This trip jump-started my college career. If I could do it again, I certainly would. I would recommend this for anybody.”
ALLIE, ACIS Participant
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Student Spotlight
Nick’s Costa Rican Adventure
We’re shining a spotlight on Nick, who traveled on an ACIS trip to Costa Rica. What did he think about his adventure abroad? Find out in this exclusive interview!
Read more on the BlogScholarship Winners
Grand Prize Winner: “Common Ground”
Zachary C.-K., New Jersey
Artist Statement: This piece connects to the theme of common ground because it focuses on what we all share before anything else. While traveling, I started thinking about how different places can feel so far apart, even though we’re all living on the same planet. No matter where I was, the ground beneath me stayed the same. This film came from slowing down and noticing that shared space, and how connection can exist even when it isn’t obvious.
Runner Up: “Homelands”
Vojtech H., Texas
Artist Statement: This pieces explore how travel to my parents’ home country helped me understand that common ground doesn’t mean abandoning differences – it means finding connection within them. Through visiting the Czech Republic, I learned that being bicultural isn’t about choosing sides but about bridging worlds, and that the most profound connections often happen in the spaces between languages, traditions, and identities.
Runner Up: “Doorways”
Samantha B., Illinois
Artist Statement: Finding common ground through educational travel is noticing what connects people rather than what separates them. I chose the subject matter of “doorways” in my submission because while a closed door may separate one side from the other, it also connects one side to the other. The four doors in my painting have different architectural details and histories, from a “Dublin Door” (on the bottom left) with a centered doorknob to a “Tallinn Door” (on the top right) with a Gothic arch. I chose to paint these doors all in pink to unite them rather than highlight their differences. These doors are from all corners of the globe but united on this single page. Finding common ground means noticing that across borders and backgrounds, people are united by similar needs, habits and hopes. Connection and collaboration grow from being eager to learn from one another and from stepping through new doorways with an open mind and curiosity.
Runner Up: “Common Ground”
Annie S., Delaware
Artist Statement:I believe that “Common ground” is the foundation to building lifelong friendships. The song I wrote explores the discovery of a beautiful friendship formed between two people who share similar interests and beliefs and relates to my own experience of finding a new friend through those connections.
Runner Up: “We Belong”
Ramen D., North Carolina
Artist Statement:My poem shows how traveling helped me realize that even when people come from different countries and speak different languages, we share the same feelings and experiences. Through small moments like laughing, eating together, and connecting without words, I learned that common ground isn’t about where we’re from, but about our shared humanity and sense of belonging.
Runner Up: “Together We Stand”
Alice S., Oklahoma
Artist Statement:A long time ago, when on a trip to Hong Kong with my family, I saw and experienced all sorts of new cultures and ideas. A key memory I could never forget was hearing the popular song from my home country, “High Hopes” by Panic at the Disco, in this unfamiliar land. We were on the other side of the world yet when I heard that song, everything seemed less scary. At that moment I realized just how universal music was. It’s all over the place, shared as the only language everyone understands. By using the headphones I got from the plane for that trip, I try to showcase that it isn’t just me who appreciates music but everyone on earth.
Student Spotlight
Johnny Vrba
Johnny Vrba, a high school senior from Illinois, traveled with his classmates to France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany. We interviewed Johnny about his experience traveling to Europe, what it was like making new friends and how his tour manager, Jerome, completely made his experience what it was.
Read more on the BlogStudent Videos
#Tag Along
Get a taste for what’s really happening on tour. Browse recent participants’ photos and posts by visiting instagram.com/acistours. Then when you travel, tag along with us on Twitter or Instagram using #ACISTours. You may even see yourself here one day!
