This June, nearly 50 adventurous students across Classes IV–II will travel to both Japan and France to engage in cultural exchange with international students. Of course, there will be no seniors on this trip, as newly graduated Class I students are unable to travel with EXCEL on summer trips per school policy. In my early years at Nobles, I paid little attention to this rule, considering it irrelevant to my own experience. However, as I entered my senior year, it came to the forefront of my mind, and I began to feel disillusioned with an EXCEL program I once thought was nearly perfect.

I once believed that seniors should be able to continue going on these trips through the summer, as it would be an easy way to give people more opportunities to travel and push them out of their comfort zones, consistent with the EXCEL program’s mission.

While I felt strongly about my idea, I didn’t fully understand the school’s policy, so I interviewed EXCEL Director Laura Neubauer to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the program’s rationale for excluding seniors. Neubauer said, “Like many things, you just have to draw the line. Like when you are old enough or not old enough to vote. From an administrative standpoint, in June, you have moved in the system from being an enrolled student to an alumnus, and that is a different experience at Nobles.”

Practically, there is no way to manage these newly graduated seniors’ behavior, nor is there an incentive for them to follow any attempts to manage them. Neubauer explained that once seniors complete their graduation ceremony on May 29, 2026, alumni are no longer restricted by school policies, and Nobles is not legally liable for them. By having recently graduated seniors on the trip, firm EXCEL rules, such as the phone ban and substance ban, are undermined. This is not to say that all seniors would engage in these activities, but because Nobles has a legal responsibility to its students, having people on the trip that Nobles cannot regulate poses a concern for the school.

After hearing this, my original stance on seniors traveling in June began to shift. The policy seemed airtight when it was finally explained in detail. Furthermore, there’s always the consideration that students could apply for summer trips earlier in their careers, avoiding the senior summer dilemma entirely. “Students who are currently enrolled are accountable to the institution, and we are accountable to them. Our goal is to service the enrolled students, and we’re turning the page so the newly enrolled Class I students now have that opportunity, just like those seniors had that same opportunity the year before, when they were rising seniors,” Neubauer said.

Now, of course, due to the availability of certain trips, sometimes the opportunity to go on summer trips from the year before is simply nonexistent. For example, the Japan trip alternates every other year, so if you don’t get in as a sophomore, you’ve lost the chance to go, making it a question of whether your entry year at Nobles coincides with the schedule. Nonetheless, I realized that if I wanted to include graduated seniors on EXCEL trips, I’d now have to do so without jeopardizing juniors’ seniority while also keeping everyone safe and within EXCEL policy. With my understanding of the rules, I began to think of an alternative solution that stays within the realm of policy. Ultimately, I leaned into the difference between alumni and students to achieve my earlier goals.

Instead of having newly graduated seniors go on summer trips as students, EXCEL could start a new initiative for recently graduated alumni to serve as extra chaperones for these trips, similar to a summer Achieve tutor or a Class IV mentor, but abroad. This role would have a separate application process where graduates could apply for summer trips. Though the positions would be selective,  this approach would accomplish my original aspirations of getting new alumni on summer trips while still keeping them in the fabric of the school for a few more months.

In addition, this could be helpful for music trips. Instead of hiring professional musicians from other countries, as was done in the past, teachers could reach out to grads and ask them to apply to serve as supervisors on these trips, while also helping with performances if necessary. 

The EXCEL program has a strong regulatory foundation that enables students to go on these trips and enjoy themselves. As the rules exist to keep students safe and foster a positive student experience, I believe Nobles should improve and add to them when necessary. By creating an alumni EXCEL initiative, not only will there be more opportunities for students to travel abroad and stay connected to Nobles after graduation, but also for leadership without borders.