Student Spotlight: Lindsay Smith

Lindsay Smith, a senior at Brewster High School, has a plan. She has committed to SUNY Fredonia for lacrosse next year, and she knows what she wants to do when she graduates.

“I want to be a special education teacher,” she said.

To get a jump on things, she recently travelled to Costa Rica and took a course through the University of Vermont called “Global Perspectives on Building Resilience and Family, School, and Community Relationships.”

It was an eye-opening experience.

“We got to see what education is like in San Jose, Costa Rica’s big city and in the rural parts. The education system is really interesting. It’s one of the best in Latin America. But there was a big difference between the schools in the city and the country.”

As part of the course, Lindsay got to teach at a rural school in Turrialba.

“It was fun to try my Spanish skills out–the students were all patient. I taught a fifth grade class. I did an introduction, told them about the US, and we played a game called steal the chicken, which is kind of like red light green light–they loved it.”

It wasn’t just the education system that was different.

“I’ve never been outside the country before, so everything was different–the roads, food, safety–but everyone was so welcoming,” said Lindsay.

The experience is just one of many that Lindsay has taken advantage of. At Brewster she has taken classes including the SUPA Child Development class, and she volunteers in Sara Sherwood’s Pre-K classroom.

Did the experience in Costa Rica change her thoughts on her future?

“We had to keep a journal during the class. It got me thinking about college. I am more excited for college. I am excited to pick my classes in what I am interested in. There were just so many little take-aways which added up to make a huge experience.”