Windsor High School theater department took a trip to New York City March 20-25. This trip consisted of 50 people including staff, students and parents.
Students attended Broadway shows, historical landmarks, boat and museum tours and much more.
“I just love New York and it was really fun to go with a lot of kids who have never been there before and we saw a lot of stuff. The four Broadway shows were very good,” Cathy Gilmore (staff).
Gilmore is a world languages teacher and was a chaperone for the New York trip. She used to live in New York and started her teacher career there.
“I would like to go back. We crammed a lot into that trip, but there was still a lot to see that we didn’t get to,” Ryann Stroup (12) said.
For some students, this was their first time on an airplane and still others who were going to NYC for the first time.
“I have not (been to New York before). This was my first time,” Ryele Peña (12) said. “It was really scary.”
There were a lot of sights that will likely stick with the students for a long time.
“The 9/11 memorial was the most impactful part of the trip. It was really sad and I almost started crying,” Peña said. “We just all went really quiet. New York is very loud and having a break and hearing the silence was very emotional.”
The sights led students to have emotional reactions in a variety of ways.
“My favorite part was definitely going to the MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art). It’s been something that’s been a little fantasy in the back of my mind for a very long time … I didn’t realize we were going at first … so when I heard we were, I lost my mind a little bit,” Sophia Jensen (12).
While some students were anticipating events, others were pleasantly surprised with how much they enjoyed events.
“I loved ‘The Outsiders,’” Gilmore said. “I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did because I’ve seen the play, but they did such a good job with the music for that show and it was really easy to fall in love with it right away.”
The magical atmosphere of Broadway inspired many students to continue theater in the future.
“The trip really brought back the spark for theater. Just being surrounded by a bunch of theater kids and watching Broadway shows … I wasn’t gonna go into anything with theater but, like, (after the trip) I auditioned for UNC’s theater education program and I got it,” Peña said.
This trip has been a beloved tradition in the theater department since 2003. There’s been an opportunity for students to attend once every three years since then, though it originally start as a yearly field trip opportunity.
“There’s so much to see in New York,” Gilmore said. “You can’t just go once.”
