COLUMN: Students ready to 'take on the world' after class trip to New York City

The following column is by Bear Creek Secondary School co-op student Bridgette Gilroy.

Local students from Bear Creek and Eastview secondary schools were given the opportunity of a lifetime to visit New York and experience the city through an artistic lens from Nov. 6-10.

With activities catered to the visual arts, dramatic arts and dance, each student was fulfilled artistically and academically. 

The trip had been in motion since last year, organized by the wonderful art departments of both schools who made it their mission that we see as much as we could.

The staff genuinely outdid themselves, with a full itinerary and no time to lose. 

Beginning with a dinner at Hard Rock Cafe, we were introduced to the culture of New York and the decades of rock ‘n' roll.

The next morning, we took a driving tour around Manhattan, viewing places we would visit during our time there. Drama and dance students got to visit the Museum of Moving Image, where we took a close look into the history of, well, the moving image! Movies, television, technology, etc. Visual art students took a trip to the Museum of Modern Art PS1.

Each group was split into their own arts for individual workshops. Visual art students attended a graffiti workshop, while drama students learned a number from Wicked, taught by an original Broadway cast member. Dance students visited the Ailey School for a Horton-style dance class.

We finished the day with a visit to the top of the Rockefeller Center, home of the NBC Studios, which we toured later in the week.

On Friday, we hit up Central Park, where we saw Shakespeare Garden, Belvedere Castle, the Alice in Wonderland Statue and the John Lennon Memorial. One of my favourite stops, simply for its beauty. Nothing beats autumn in New York!

Afterwards, we took a trip down to the Metropolitan Museum of Art where some students looked forward to getting a picture on the iconic ‘Gossip Girl’ steps. Though the museum was much too large to view in its entirety, with pieces from the very early years of art documentation, we all left feeling a little bit more educated in art history. 

Friday night was spent at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, home of some very talented New Yorkers. We enjoyed a delicious meal while the waiters and waitresses served and sang simultaneously. From Broadway favourites to hit classics, these folks can do it all. And with a donation, anyone can request a song.

The group had very little time all together outside of the bus, but this dinner allowed us to eat, sing and laugh as one. It was a moment to bond.  

After a few outfit changes, we hit the road to the Minskoff Theatre for that evening’s performance of The Lion King. From the choreography and the costumes to the puppets and the set pieces, the show provided laughs, tears and a whole lot of smiles. If ever given the chance to see this show, don’t hesitate. 

Saturday began with a solemn visit to the 9/11 memorial, one of the quietest parts of the trip. While it was important to learn of the artistic culture New York had to offer, it was equally important to learn about the city’s history. While recognizing the tragedy, we could also see the beauty in the architecture of the memorial pools and One World Trade Center. Anyone visiting New York should take the time to see this spot. 

With some free time between the tour of NBC Studios, students could shop around Midtown Manhattan, which turned into the favourite part of the trip for some students. Visiting stores that aren’t in Canada, purchasing souvenirs, and simply hanging around with friends was a chance for us to feel like adults just strolling about New York City.

We ended the night with an Italian dinner in Little Italy and a comedy show featuring two hilarious groups. 

Our group's answers varied when asked what their highlight of the trip would be, but clear favourites could be heard. The tour of NBC Studios was a huge hit, as well as the Top of the Rock, which took place in the same building. Students truly enjoyed the visual art graffiti workshop, the musical workshop and the dance workshop. Without a doubt, one of our favourite experiences was The Lion King on Broadway.

However, I can attest that it wasn’t just the souvenirs we took home, but also a unique, profound feeling — one of friendship and love, one of bellyaching laughter, one of capability. Suddenly, we all felt like we could take on the world, and I don’t doubt that we could.

It was wonderful seeing so many people, especially those from different schools, form friendships and grow close over just a few days. It was an incredible experience that we all got to share, and for that I am eternally grateful. 

Thank you to our bus driver, Michael; also to our main tour guide, Brian, for his extensive knowledge of every sight we saw; those who led the workshops and showed our students a glimmer of the professional life; and the many organizations, companies and restaurants that helped accommodate our needs.

But especially to our teachers, who made the entire trip possible. Without them, we would’ve never seen the city skyline.