Kate Weber

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Kate is a New England native living in Montana. She graduated from UConn with a degree in Creative Writing. Kate is a passionate traveler, artist, and lover of the outdoors. Along with being a part of the full-time staff at Travel For Teens, she is a Licensed Massage Therapist and is developing her own practice to support people with pain management.

What is your favorite travel memory?

Every travel memory is truly special in its own way because, each time you explore a new place or revisit a familiar one, you are experiencing it with a fresh perspective and appreciate it in a completely different way. If I had to choose one, it would be my first European backpacking trip with my close friends in college -- a trip that cultivated my deep love for traveling, connecting with others, and immersing myself in different cultures.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

This is nothing short of my dream job -- I wake up every day grateful to have a supportive and brilliant team. I've grown in so many ways because there is a huge difference with what you bring to the table when you fully believe in what you do each day. TFT permeates my life beyond the work week because the sense of community is infectious, and ultimately it makes me a better, more driven person.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I love when a student who was originally unsure about leaving their familiar country & routine and returns to TFT because they discovered a genuine love for exploring our world. Often there is a moment when their outlook shifts, and you know that this experience has shaped their perspective. We always want to inspire our teens to go on to be savvy & responsible travelers that will continue to globetrot for the rest of their lives.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I personally love to be surprised with where I go each summer because all of our programs are unique and amazing in different ways -- it's impossible not to be excited about any one of them. Last summer, I embarked on our 44-day USA & Canada Expedition, which I think we, as Americans, would often overlook in search of more exotic destinations -- but I have to say, our country is vast and amazingly diverse and you may be surprised at the adventures you find here!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

It may sound cliché, but I am proud of our team every single day; each person is relentlessly hard-working. Surrounding yourself with a group of like-minded, passionate and driven people is nothing short of inspirational. There is a reason our staff is drawn to Travel For Teens: because we all recognize what a special opportunity we have to not only do what we love but to share what we love with future generations. We all share the fundamental belief that travel is the best form of education. I'm not exaggerating at all when I say it is the greatest job ever!

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

When your company's mission contributes to the greater good in the world, success comes naturally. Our team doesn't feel like we are going through the motions, we are working towards a goal we believe in outside of the office walls. We know the importance of immersing ourselves in other cultures and getting outside our comfort zones -- and truly, the more our future generations experience these life-changing opportunities, the brighter our future will be. I can't think of a better goal to strive towards!