SYA strongly believes that involvement in extracurricular activities enhances a student’s academic success and character development, while exposing them to their surrounding community. With the help of the activity coordinator at each campus, our students make local connections in pursuit of their various passions. From sports to music to community service, members of this year’s class have embarked on a variety of meaningful extracurriculars — some familiar and some brand new — that are putting their SYA experiences over the top.

SYA France

Evan V. FR’23 (Blake School) / Fencing

Evan participated in a national fencing tournament this fall in Dax with his club. Of over 200 participants, he ranked 25th. Kudos from his proud RD Mina Qadir and the entire SYA France community!

“I compete year-round in tournaments around the US at a competitive level and I wanted to be able to maintain my skill level for when I return home. Finding a fencing club that would allow me to train against other competitive fencers and maybe even participate in tournaments was important to me. The level of fencing in France is high so I was excited for a different challenge.  I’m grateful that it was so easy for me to join Escrime Rennes Metropole.

Not only have I been able to speak French to many other people, but I have become very independent, from taking the metro to the club by myself to organizing a trip with the club to the south of France for a competition. I also get to experience interactions between French people and learn through them how to converse in both formal and informal settings. Traveling with the fencing club, rooming with my teammates, and fencing people I had never met before gave me a whole new perspective on my experience in France. I’ve also learned more about what life is like for teenagers in France.

Not many people can say they have competed in a tournament in another country. It was one of the most exciting experiences of my time here in France and of my life!”

Evan competed in his second regional tournament and placed second. 

Annie G. FR’23 (Hill School) / Crew

“It was very important for me to find a crew team in Rennes. At my home school, I take athletics very seriously and wanted to continue at that level in France. I started rowing spring of my freshman year and I plan to continue in college. I have trained intensely for the past few years and knew that my coming to France would not be possible without the presence of high-performance rowing.

When I first arrived, I experienced a lot of culture shock; I couldn’t train at the same level as I can in America because in France, crew is viewed as more of an activity than a high-performance sport. It has definitely given me a space to learn more about the sport and myself as an athlete.

The coaches and everyone on the team have been very welcoming and supportive. My teammates have taught me some French slang and more relaxed French. I’m looking forward to creating new friendships and connecting with the rowing community in Rennes. I’m also excited for competitions to begin and to improve as a rower.”

Annie and her SYA France teammates recently competed at Hennebont and returned with medals and, more importantly, lots of great memories with their Rennes team.

Jonnathan F. FR’23 (Millbrook School) / Kickboxing

“Finding an extracurricular activity was really important to me because it was my only way of practicing French outside of school and home. Coming from a school with afternoon practices every day, I felt the need to find a sport to match my school routine back home. I also think it’s important for one to stay in shape.

Kickboxing was totally new to me and I never imagined I would practice it in France. Initially, I wanted to join a soccer team to pursue my soccer career, but thought that it would be a better experience for me to try something new.

This sport has helped to immerse me in the culture and the language in a way which I don’t at school or home. It helps me connect to French people and practice the language. It has also made me more familiar with the city itself and become more independent.

I have created a few friendships outside of school with the people kickbox with. There are two boys and a girl that live somewhat near me and also go to Jean Mace, so I’ve had lunch with them on a few occasions. They also play soccer so we’ve been out to play a few times.

I look forward to becoming a better version of myself, physically and mentally. I hope to become stronger and have the discipline to control what I know and how to use it.”

SYA Italy

Francesca V. IT’23 (Hewitt School) / Centro Aperto

Centro Aperto offers local young people a safe place to go after school for activities, help with homework and positive attention. As SYA Italy’s Extracurriculars Coordinator David Lutchner says, “This is a project for anyone with a big heart!”

“Coming to SYA, I knew I wanted to do something oriented around giving back to my community and making connections with people. As a counselor in training at a summer camp in the U.S., finding Centro Aperto felt like the perfect way to combine the joy I get from working with kids with my desire to help others.

The kids at il Centro generally have parents who work late or otherwise can't spend quality time with them after school, so when they come, they're often looking for some fun and a little love. Spending time with them and helping facilitate activities take on a whole new meaning knowing that the volunteers (us!) truly have the chance to make someone's day.

Every time I leave il Centro, I feel fulfilled. Viterbo has been my home for just over two months and it feels amazing to know that I gave something back to the community that has welcomed me with open arms.

I’ve come to know some of the children quite well and it was incredibly difficult at first because of the language barrier; few to none of them know English, so in the beginning it was a bit confusing. However, simply spending time around them and gaining skill and confidence in my Italian has now allowed me to be more willing to just go for it and make my best effort- 99% of the time, that's all the kids notice.

I hope that by the time I leave Viterbo, I will have grown as a person and volunteer and been able to truly make a difference in some of these kids' lives.”

Donovan M. IT’23 (Kent School) / SYA Law Program

The SYA Law Program is for students who are interested in exchanging ideas using the context of Italian law. By looking at actual legal cases, students gain an understanding of the legal, social, economic, civic and environmental structures that make up the profile of Italian society.

“I knew that I wanted to pursue something that aligned with my educational and professional goals and I’m so happy that doing a law internship was an option for me.  I have never done anything like this before, but I think that’s kind of the point -- to try new things.

I’m learning the complexities of the Italian legal system and how to make sense of past court cases.  And learning from an Italian lawyer is increasing my language skills exponentially.

I’m looking forward to helping the law firm by translating English documents into Italian and Italian documents into English.  I also hope to gain a solid understanding of the legal profession as a whole.”

Yunus Y. IT’23 (Cambridge Rindge and Latin School) / SYA Archaeology Group

Students here explore a local archeological site, while maintaining it and building fences on the paths for visitors.

“There is much to say about the tranquility of it all, flora and fauna playing together under ancient architecture. If it weren’t for Italian culture and our school, my experience at SYA would be defined by moments at the Archaeology club.

It was like finding a second home when my passion for history intertwined with “Hiking the Francigena,” an existing extracurricular at SYA. The inspiration behind my bi-weekly investigations of archaeological sites around Viterbo started here, connecting with the club’s guide and director of Poggio Giudio, an archaeological site fifteen minutes walking from our school. After an official review by our head of extracurriculars, I led my first group on a Saturday morning excursion to Poggio Giudio; the rest is history.

Through my extracurricular experience at SYA, my year abroad goes beyond just the present, delving into Etruscan history and the beginnings of Rome. The classmates that are participating in this historic journey have become my closest friends and the backbone of the incredible club that is SYA Archaeology. I plan to study anthropology in college, so everything I learn here is crucial to my future.”

SYA Spain

At SYA Spain, Noah S. (Hotchkiss School) and Lucas B. (Poly Prep) play with the Zaragoza lacrosse team. They recently traveled to Barcelona with the team to practice with the men's team from Princeton University, who traveled to Spain during fall break. There, Noah and Lucas had the chance to practice alongside players from Valencia, Madrid and Barcelona. 

SYA Spain Resident Director Rocio Alejo Rodriguez said, "Having the opportunity to do an extracurricular activity in another country, in another culture and in another language makes their value increase exponentially."

Of the experience, Lucas said, "Even though I've played lacrosse my whole life, it was the last thing I expected to be doing in Spain. I came here to get out of my comfort zone and try new things, but it was difficult to turn down the opportunity to travel that being on the lacrosse team has given me. In order to compete, we have to travel because of how few teams there are throughout the country. Of course, being surrounded by young Spanish people is really important to learning slang and other words I probably won't find in the dictionary. I'm really excited to help grow the game of lacrosse in Spain.”