Office of Communication

A group of eighth graders pose for a photo in Washington D.C. Students typically visit various museums in the nation’s capital during the week-long trip.

High school can feel like an endless cycle of assignments, tests and college prep. We’re constantly working, and the pressure to succeed academically often overshadows everything, from hobbies to much-needed sleep. I propose a solution — a chance to step away from the classroom and build connections in new ways.

I’m talking about the kind of class trips Harker students enjoyed in middle school, like the unforgettable week in Washington, D.C., where we toured historic sites by day and danced on a yacht by night. That sense of adventure, camaraderie and learning outside the classroom is something we need more of in high school.

Remembering those trips, it’s clear that they were more than just a break from academics. They were a chance to bond with classmates in ways that don’t happen when you’re sitting next to each other in a classroom. When you’re navigating a city together, facing new experiences and sharing laughter over dinner, the barriers between people disappear. 

I still remember my first class trip vividly — two days spent exploring Marin Headlands in fifth grade. On the last night, our group gathered around a bonfire by the beach, laughing and sharing stories. One of my classmates, who was usually quiet in class, started telling hilarious jokes that had everyone in stitches. That night, I realized how much more there was to the people I saw every day in school but never truly got to know.  

The friendships formed during high school trips will be the ones that last long after graduation. As we get older and face more responsibilities, it becomes harder to make those deep connections with classmates because we’re often too focused on grades, test scores and the endless pressure of high school life. A trip would give us the time and space to really get to know each other beyond the confines of our schoolwork. This could be achieved in just one weekend or during one of our current fall break long weekends. 

But bonding is only part of the equation. There’s also a certain kind of learning that can’t happen inside the classroom. Class trips give us the opportunity to develop real-world skills — how to navigate new environments and handle the challenges of being away from home. 

These lessons aren’t in any textbook but are just as important as anything we learn in our academic subjects. Whether it’s learning how to work together to plan a group activity or figuring out how to communicate in a new city, these experiences shape us in ways that can’t be replicated through a lecture.

Yes, organizing trips can be logistically challenging, and there will always be concerns about whether the time would be better spent on a regular school day. But here’s the thing: a few days of ‘break’ won’t hurt us. If anything, the growth, memories and skills we gain from these experiences will make us stronger students and individuals. We all know the pressure of keeping up with homework and studying for exams, but taking a break to recharge, reflect and connect with others is just as important for our personal development.

High school is a time to not just excel academically but also to build the foundation for the rest of our lives. We need to give ourselves the chance to make those deep connections that we’ll carry with us for years to come. It’s time to bring back class trips—not just for the unforgettable experiences they provide, but because they help us build stronger friendships and discover new perspectives that define our high school years.