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Trevor Hou and Zain Kizilbash prepare for semester away in D.C.

OFF TO D.C. Juniors Trevor Hou and Zain Kizilbash will leave for D.C. next week.
OFF TO D.C. Juniors Trevor Hou and Zain Kizilbash will leave for D.C. next week.
Greyson Sale

As most students begin settling in for the second semester, several are preparing for the transition to a new school in a new place. A bold choice, these young adults will be embarking on a semester-away program in Washington, D.C.

Two such students are juniors Trevor Hou and Zain Kizilbash. Both will depart for D.C. in the coming days to attend the School for Ethics and Global Leadership, better known as SEGL (pronounced like seagull).

SEGL begins its orientation on Jan. 25. Kizilbash plans to depart after school on the 24th, while Hou plans to leave earlier on the 22nd to allow some time to get to know the city of D.C. Both will travel with their parents. Hou explains that the logistical preparation is relatively minimal at this point, but the emotional preparation is more amplified. “I haven’t started packing yet, but I feel like in terms of getting ready, there’s not that much to do. I’m just trying to relax and mentally prepare to go for four months,” Hou said.

As Hou mentioned, relaxation is essential before beginning a novel and exciting experience like a semester away. One thing that makes this easier is a relatively light course schedule during the weeks after winter break. “The program has asked us to continue classes that we’re going to be taking over there. And so that’s, for me, Chemistry, Calculus [and] US History, [so] I only have three classes [right now],” Kizilbash said. “It’s basically winter break vibes at home, and I’m just kind of chilling at school. It’s just been more wandering around and talking to people or doing whatever I feel like.”

Hou and Kizlibash are also prioritizing spending time with friends and family right now. Hou plans to go skiing with friends as a last hurrah before his departure. “I’m just going to chill with friends,” he said.

Kizilbash will have a going-away party. “My parents invited a bunch of family and friends to come over before I leave,” he said.

While soaking up the last of home is essential, looking ahead is all but unavoidable. Both excitement and nervousness are some of the powerful anticipatory feelings most prevalent now. “I think it will be a really nice opportunity to learn and grow your vision because you get exposed to a lot of things that you otherwise wouldn’t have had access to,” Hou said. “You’re able to study American government right across from all of these government buildings.”

Kizilbash agrees. “I feel like it’s an opportunity to strengthen your abilities, your personal ethics and your ability to lean into your own independence,” he said. “I never really went on sleepovers or whatever when I was younger, so this is my first time being away from home for an extended period of time, and it’s not even just a week or two weeks; it’s multiple months. People ask me, ‘Are you excited?’ Like, yeah, I’m excited, but also really nervous because of that. I still haven’t processed that I’m leaving yet.”

Even many miles away, they will still have ways of staying connected to home, though cell phones aren’t one of them. “They call themselves a one-screen school. Basically, they take your phone away, and you’re only supposed to have one screen, which is a laptop for school work,” Hou said. “They give you these ancient flip phones that you’re supposed to call your parents [with].”

Friends and family are also allowed to visit, which Kizilbash hopes to take advantage of frequently with his family in D.C.

Hou and Kizilbash will return in late May to begin their summers– just before other SPA students begin finals week.

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