W.I.S.T. TIMES Students visit San Marcos for STEAM program

By Ryan Chen Copy Editor

During winter vacation, students from Washington International School in Taichung participated in the San Marcos STEAM program, an overseas educational trip that allowed students to experience life in California and broaden their base of knowledge.

During the two-week program, students stayed with local host families to experience cultural exchange and explore daily life in America. In the mornings, students attended classes at California State University San Marcos. The courses covered a wide variety of subjects ranging from typical STEAM topics like science, technology, engineering, arts and math to other topics such as business and marketing.

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to engage in university-level courses in California and be in an educational setting that is distinct from Taiwan,” said Josephine Chang, Grade 11. “The project-based activities were very captivating, as we learned to combine theory with practical applications.”

Besides academic opportunities, the program also provided abundant time for students to visit tourist spots such as the USS Midway Aircraft Carri- er Museum, iFLY Indoor Skydiving, SeaWorld San Diego Aquarium and San Marcos City Hall.

“Although I felt dizzy afterwards, I had a blast on the full-motion flight simulators in the USS Midway Museum,” said Chris Wei, Grade 11.

Participating students also performed community service at the Oceanside Municipal Fishing Pier. This included cleaning up the beach by removing trash and other debris.

Teachers and students alike were enthusiastic about the benefits gained from the program.

“Students’ time in the U.S. was invaluable as they learned to appreciate the local culture and values,” said Jenny Shaw, 10-2 homeroom teacher. “After this remarkable experience, students are definitely more independent, confident, curious and grateful.”