CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – This summer, Alexa Wohr had the amazing opportunity to travel to Thailand and rural Vietnam. She began her journey in Thailand, where she explored Bangkok's stunning temples, stayed at an ecological elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, and relaxed on the beaches of Phuket before visiting the Phi Phi Islands. From there, she traveled to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, before heading to Hòa A Province for her main role with Coach for College.

While in Vietnam, Alexa served as both a baseball coach and a biology teacher at a summer camp. "Each night we would lesson plan and develop ideas to prepare students for their upcoming exams," she says. "The main mission was to help students stay in school longer and give them the chance to try sports they've never played before."

The experience was eye-opening in countless ways. Alexa learned all about the Vietnamese way of life, including their unique education system, where placement tests determine which type of school students attend, and where "college" and "university" are considered two different things. But the most powerful lessons came from connection. "Each day the kids showed up eager to learn and spend time with the coaches," Alexa says. "School would end, and they would stay for hours to play volleyball and other games, and they even showed up at our guest house to wake us up in the morning or say goodnight in the evenings. Even though we were only there for three weeks, they welcomed us with open arms and treated us like family."

Her favorite part? "Pushing myself out of my comfort zone," she says. "I didn't just visit Vietnam, I truly lived in Vietnam. I got to meet the most amazing kids and surround myself with people who want to make the world a better place."

Her advice: "Do it! Take that chance. You don't know what you don't know until you try. This experience taught me so much about myself and gave me the chance to explore a part of the world that once felt achievable only in dreams."

Q: What did you do over the summer? 
A: While in Vietnam, I was both a baseball coach and a biology teacher at a summer camp called Coach for College.  Each night we would lesson plan and develop ideas to teach the students important material to prepare them for their upcoming high school and even continuing education exams. Our main mission was to foster Coach for College's goal of helping students stay in school longer and give them the opportunity to try sports they haven't had the privilege of playing before.
Q: What's something you learned that you didn't expect to?
A: This experience was truly eye-opening and so unique! While there, I learned all about the Vietnamese way of life, including their education system, which is completely different from what we experience in the States. Students in Vietnam take placement tests like in the U.S., but their results place them into different categories of schools. I also found it very unique that "college" and "university" are considered two different things.
Q: How do you think this experience helped you grow professionally and/or personally?
A: There were so many things I learned about myself that helped me grow as a person. Ultimately, the power of connection is what will forever stick with me. Each day the kids showed up eager to learn and spend time with the coaches. School would end, and they would stay for hours to play volleyball and other games—and they even showed up at our guest house to wake us up in the morning or say goodnight in the evenings. Even though we were only there for three weeks, they welcomed us with open arms and treated us like family. It showed me that it doesn't matter where you come from or what your past looks like when kind and genuine people come together, you can make a lasting difference.
Q: What was your favorite part of the experience?
A: My favorite part was pushing myself out of my comfort zone. There were so many things that would have stressed me out before flying across the world by myself, but now I can proudly say I did that! I didn't just visit Vietnam—I truly lived in Vietnam. I got to meet the most amazing kids and surround myself with people who want to make the world a better place.
Q: Any advice you'd give to people looking to get a similar opportunity?
A: Do it! Take that chance, you don't know what you don't know until you try. This experience taught me so much about myself and allowed me to explore another part of the world that once felt achievable only in dreams.