Ten college students from throughout america made Gettysburg their dwelling for almost every week.
The expertise is a part of the American Alternate Mission (AEP), which “sends highschool seniors on a free, week-long journey to a hometown very completely different from their very own,” in accordance with the group's web site.
Some college students got here from large cities like Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Las Vegas, Nevada, whereas one was from the Flathead Reservation in Mission, Montana.
Alexander Casillas, of Albuquerque, stated he enrolled “on a whim” after his lecturers instructed him it could be “a very good alternative to see the world.”
“At first I didn't wish to go,” Casillas stated.
Casillas, who lately graduated from Siembra Management Excessive College, stated he didn't find out about Gettysburg in historical past class, however he had researched the realm in regards to the Civil Battle and Abraham Lincoln earlier than visiting.
Along with studying extra historical past in Adams County, Casillas stated he was additionally excited to spend the day in Washington, D.C. and go tenting at Caledonia State Park.
“I simply hope it's enjoyable and everybody will get to know one another and create a bond,” Casillas stated.
One other pupil, Alejandra Alvizo-González, traveled right here from Albuquerque.
Alvizo-González, who graduated from Freedom Excessive College, stated he enrolled in AEP as a result of he has solely been to Arizona and California.
“It appeared like a cool, enjoyable expertise,” Alvizo-González stated. “I don’t journey a lot”.
Touring alone to the realm was “anxious,” because it was solely the second time she had flown on a aircraft.
“I'm already afraid of heights. Turbulence all the time will get to me,” she stated.
The placement choice was random for her, however she knew Gettysburg was “a small, very inexperienced city,” she stated.
Alvizo-González stated he hoped to be taught in regards to the Battle of Gettysburg and the historical past right here.
Keirston Molloy of Mission, Montana, additionally went by way of a random choice course of to come back to Gettysburg, however was “very completely happy.”
“I wished to be on this aspect of the nation,” Molloy stated.
Molloy, who comes from the Flathead Reservation, stated she shouldn’t be Native American, however grew up in that space and graduated from St. Ignatius Excessive College.
“My city has 1,000 inhabitants. It’s a large distinction. We have now a variety of discipline,” Molloy stated.
To this point, Molloy has loved attending to know the individuals right here and seeing the variations.
“I'm often the shy, quiet lady at dwelling. “I’m excited to make connections right here,” Molloy stated.
Kristin Bechtel, AEP alternate supervisor, stated that is the most important group she has ever come right here, together with 10 guests and 14 locals who helped all through the expertise.
Will Mathis, a 2024 Gettysburg Space Excessive College graduate, stated that is his second 12 months internet hosting college students for every week, alongside together with his mom, Rhonda. Casillas stays with them this 12 months.
Will and Casillas have bonded very properly up to now, they stated. Will nonetheless maintains relationships with individuals who visited Gettysburg final 12 months by way of AEP.
“This has been an unbelievable program. “Will’s been good about getting me concerned,” Rhonda stated.
Will, who has lived in Gettysburg his complete life, stated he felt the itinerary lined a lot of Adams County, in addition to the nation's capital, within the brief time the scholars might be visiting.
From icebreaker video games at Gettysburg Rec Park and free time in downtown Gettysburg to exploring Gettysburg Nationwide Navy Park and Washington, DC, college students realized quite a bit in regards to the space and one another all through the expertise.
On Monday, college students helped with neighborhood service for about three hours at South Central Group Motion Applications (SCCAP) and cleaned the streets with From the Floor Up.
Latest Gettysburg Space Excessive College college students will quickly be touring to different areas of the nation, as will college students who visited right here.
AEP founder David McCullough III stated this system facilities on “the deep understanding that, it doesn’t matter what, we’re all on this collectively.”
“At present, nonetheless, we’ve built-in our lives into dangerously homogeneous communities. Consequently, our social teams too typically outline themselves with a slim view of the “different.” “We’re higher than this,” McCullough stated.
AEP is giving the subsequent technology “a unprecedented American coming-of-age journey that may assist them join with individuals, hometowns, and methods of life very completely different from their very own,” in accordance with McCullough.
“We have now already seen the way it modifications the lives of our college students and we plan to broaden it in order that it may collectively change the way forward for our nation,” McCullough stated.