Leah Gershgorin ’27, Commentary Writer

NA Students on the 2024 France Immersion trip. (Photo courtesy of Ms. McNeilly-Anta)

Every so-called “mandatory” school task — whether it be community service, IB Diploma (if one decides to pursue it), or the Immersion Experiences requirements — can feel like just another item to check off a list. Personally, prior to entering high school, I made a checklist in my Notes app of every class and club I planned on joining and every requirement I had to fulfill. The task that I was most looking forward to was Immersion. So, in March of my freshman year, I went on the France Immersion trip and lived with my host sibling, Eva, for 12 days. We had talked a couple of times over the phone before meeting and texted inconsistently in the prior months, but we barely knew one another. I certainly didn’t expect that text conversation to become one of my most used chats today. In the weeks leading up to the trip, I assumed going to France would be an easy way for me to fulfill the Immersion requirement; but after experiencing all the fun that came with the trip, I realized that Immersion was an enjoyable experience and a requirement everyone should look forward to checking off.

 The night I first arrived at Eva’s house, we stayed up talking until around 2 a.m. We covered everything from the basic “What’s your favorite…?” icebreakers to secrets only our close friends knew about us. For the rest of my stay, we fostered a friendship that we have maintained to this day. Now, every weekend, Eva and I make it a priority to FaceTime and update one another on what happened the past week. We also text almost every day, whether it’s to help each other with French or English or to share Instagram reels. Many people lose touch with their host siblings due to language barriers, but these same barriers can also create opportunities to improve language skills and strengthen the bond with a host sibling.

The more I talk to Eva and hear about her life, the more I see how much it differs from mine — from the high school drama to the experience of living in a European city. Before meeting Eva, I never fully grasped the fact that there are people my age living their own lives all over the world, but now, I have a personal insight into that world. 

Newark Academy senior Elimena Wallace ‘25, who went on the France Immersion trip in 2023, says, “[My host sibling and I] talk often, although it is mostly responding to stories or giving quick life updates. We both know we will forever support and love each other in our pursuits. We made a bond that geographical locations could not break.” 

To anyone approaching Immersion as just another task to complete, remember that the Immersion experience not only gives us a broader perspective on the world, but it can also leave us with trusted friends with whom we can maintain close friendships. Hopefully, you find the  Immersion experience to be a source of valuable lessons that can be applied to daily life and cherished for years to come. There’s always more depth to the tasks at hand, and hopefully, I shed some light on this checkbox.