Study abroad research indicates that young people who travel outside of their home countries are more well-rounded, socially aware, and open to new outlooks. Twenty Bronx students added three new stamps to their passports this spring: Italy, France, and Spain!

It’s part of a yearlong fellowship with East Side House Settlement through which students learn about college and career readiness, leadership skills and life tools. On the 10-day all-expenses-paid trip, they gained once-in-a-lifetime experiences like learning about the history of the Colosseum in Italy and making tapas in Spain.

The participants were chosen based on their academic achievement. Now, many of them are graduating high school and going on to colleges like Hunter College and Baruch College with their newfound skills and perspectives.

To learn more about next year’s Student Ambassador program, visit East Side House’s website.