Palmer Trinity School

24 W W W. PA L M E R T R I N I T Y. O R G Virtus Humanitas et Espiritus. It is easy to overlook the phrase that is emblazoned on the blues and whites of our uniform, or perched above a water fountain in the hallway. Our solemn moto epitomizes our unyielding devotion to the nourishment of each student's critical thinking, character, and global citizenship. Palmer Trinity's over-arching values and principals take precedence over trivial class rankings and test scores; as such, Palmer Trinity operates outside the confines of the archetypal high school, by cultivating an environment where every individual's common humanity is upheld and is of paramount importance. Such an altruistic approach to learning has allowed Palmer Trinity to constantly be at the forefront of dynamic and innovative academic change. I had the privilege of witnessing these abstract values transcend the glossy pages of advertisement campaigns into tangible, rigorous, experiential learning through the Scotland: Rebellion, Colonization, and Referendum course. I was drawn to the program due to the fact that we would embark on a trip shortly after having spent months learning the history of Scotland. Traveling to a country that I have studied extensively and not remembering much of the history has always been one of my biggest pet peeves. Suddenly, I had found a solution to one of my biggest gripes—so I jumped at the opportunity. Not only were we meeting one Saturday out of every month, but we were delving into the lives of William Wallace and King Edward asynchronously with the Chadwick School in Los Angeles. In lieu of avoiding the standard lectures, we were able to teach, debate, and collaborate with students halfway across the country; this offered a refreshing twist on traditional learning methods. Following a semester's worth of Saturday classes, we set off for Edinburgh. Our hotel in Edinburgh was within walking distance of the Royal Mile, the lifeblood of the ancient city. We were separated into groups of four and given time to shop on the Royal Mile and to eat lunch. Afterward, we headed back to the back to the City Center for dinner and ate in a traditional British Pub which had the famous Yorkshire Pudding. e Scots' culinary preferences underscored their commitment to creating comfort food in order to cope with historically stark living conditions. By the second day, we were meandering through the muddled greens of the Scottish Highlands BY LU CAS VA L E NZU E L A , GR A DE 12 Experiential Learning in Scotland

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