The Senior Trip Experience

Each year students at Logos spend their senior trip with teachers instead of what is traditionally seen as a time to spend with peers, celebrating their head-of-the-school status with debauchery and regretful decisions.

This senior trip is a time when the 24 students of the class get to set goals and discuss their job as leaders of the school while resting in what is a busy time of college applications, SAT preparation and difficult class loads.

This past weekend, Leanne, myself and a co-worker, Megan, took the seniors to the far eastern province of Mondulkiri. This province has often been defined as Cambodia's "wild east," and in a country like Cambodia that is quite a reputation to live up to.

Mondulkiri is unquestionably the most beautiful place I have seen in Cambodia. Rolling hills, pines, cool northern breezes, lush forests and a small population add up to a place that is something unlike I ever expected to be in this country. Outside the city limits are countless waterfalls, swimming holes and an infinite forest with nothing but a question mark to explain what or whom lives out there.

We road-rallied the 6 hours to Mondulkiri and spent the weekend in devotion time, swimming, eating spaghetti, cooking marshmallows by the bonfire and playing hilarious games of whiffle ball.

We visited the tallest waterfall in Cambodia which, up to Cambodian safety regulations, is nothing but a 100 ft. torrent blocked off by a gate that you must jump in order to view the falls. Very safe. We swam in unnamed Cambodian rivers and jumped a 30 ft. cliff off Sen Monorom Waterfall.

The mornings and evenings were crisp, we slept without air conditioning and under heavy blankets. The days were warm and dry, much like Colorado in late July. It was a treat and an unexpected surprise.

The students had a wonderful and relaxing time. The whole drive home, including the 45-minute stop on the side of a Cambodian highway fixing our blown out tire, was spent lamenting the fact that the trip, the weather and the experience was over.

I have spent 16 months with this group of 24 students and I know full well that, though a small group, they have incredible potential. My love for them comes with high expectations that they work hard and find personal satisfaction and success while learning what it means to serve those who are in need.

I will miss this group of students because they welcomed me to a new country and a new school with grace and support. They have done just as much for me as I will do for them and I loved being able to spend senior trip encouraging, resting and celebrating this stage of life with them.

Pictured above: Senior Group Photos at Busra Falls, Sen Monoram Falls (the waterfall we jumped off of), and the funniest game of wiffle ball I have EVER played.