Students at Bishop O’Dowd High School spent their spring break in a variety of ways this year, from touring colleges across the Midwest to conducting hands-on wildlife research in Costa Rica. While some used the time to plan their academic futures, others stepped outside their comfort zones through immersive, real-world experiences.
Ariela Kotton ‘28 spent her break visiting family in Ohio during Passover while also touring several Midwestern colleges, including Case Western Reserve University, Northwestern University, and the University of Michigan. Interested in psychology, she explored different programs and campus environments as part of her college search.
She emphasized the importance of fully experiencing each campus, not just its academics. “If anyone were going to visit those colleges, I would say definitely take a guided tour because it’s super informational and ask a lot of questions,” Ariela said. “Also, just walk around the town… seeing the surrounding towns of the colleges was my favorite part because it’s just so interesting to see what the environment you would potentially be living in.”
In contrast, Maitri Sudindranath ‘28 participated in a school-organized science trip to Costa Rica, where she engaged in conservation work and field research. For the first three days, she stayed at a coastal reserve, taking overnight shifts between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. to monitor nesting leatherback sea turtles.
During these shifts, students collected data on the turtles and relocated their eggs to a protected hatchery. This process significantly increases survival rates from approximately 15% on the open beach to around 80% in the hatchery, due to reduced poaching.
The trip continued in the Veragua Rainforest, where students hiked and observed diverse wildlife, including snakes, frogs, monkeys, butterflies, and sloths. Maitri described learning how to hold butterflies as one of her favorite experiences.
Beyond the activities themselves, Maitri said the trip helped her grow both academically and personally. She developed a deeper understanding of biological concepts such as ecosystems and biodiversity, became more confident speaking Spanish with locals, and grew more comfortable interacting with animals.
These experiences reflect how students used spring break not only as a time to relax, but also as an opportunity to learn, explore, and prepare for the future.
