What is your favorite travel memory?
On my first trip in Japan, I remember the day we visited Nara, which is a town that's famous for having thousands of wild deer roaming around. It started raining heavily and we all took shelter under a little pagoda. One of the deer wandered up and sat in there with us, letting us pet him. It was so cute!
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
I have grown so much in my own self-confidence over these last few years, both as an instructor and as a traveler. I've become comfortable navigating both the locations we spend lots of time in and even with the locations that are less familiar. I'm much more able to adapt to sudden changes, being able to switch lessons and locations on the fly when needed to meet the needs of my students. The challenges I've overcome in the past, combined with my experiences with World Class Programs, have given me confidence that I can solve any new situation that may come up in life!
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
We have had several returning students on the Japan trip last year who chose us again because they and their families saw that we earned a great deal of trust, and liked the format we use for our programs. One student told me his goal, after completing his Japan program with us, was to return after high school with a group of friends specifically to show them all of the best Japanese food. After being on this trip, he now felt confident that he could navigate the country by himself and guide his friends to new cultural experiences. I loved hearing that because that's exactly what we strive for-- empowering young people to become bold and independent adventurers.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
If I was a prospective student, I would be so excited about the Japan trip! I've always loved Japanese art and culture ever since I was young, and I would jump at the chance to get to experience it firsthand. You get to see so many cities and famous sites, but you also get time to go out and actually explore these places instead of just passing through on a tour bus.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
Even though this company has grown a lot over the years, we're still able to maintain a personalized, caring, family vibe on each program we operate. We listen intently to the needs of our students, and our greatest aim besides education is to create memories that they will carry with them for a lifetime. I was really proud of some of the things we as staff coordinated this past year, based directly on feedback from students on what they wanted to do. We found some students a gym they could attend in the morning, for some we found arcades or secret shopping locations, for some we did an escape room activity, etc. And that was all possible because of the immense passion and dedication of each staff member who took initiative to listen to the students and find a way to make World Class Programs magic happen. All of us were excited to make this trip a great experience for all of our students, even if it meant taking on a little extra work for us.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
Having a heart to serve the community. True leadership happens by looking towards others and asking how you can meet their needs. Yes, business is about achieving goals and making profits, but if you lose sight of the people that you're providing goods or services for, it's easy to start making unbalanced decisions. Long term, this can unravel the very thing you worked so hard to create. If your focus is instead on serving people, it helps you maintain your core values and have an impact that lasts. I am so proud of World Class Programs for keeping its focus on service and community when it comes to its programs and its students/alumni.