Through Groton School's established partnership with Orkeeswa Secondary School in the beautiful Monduli Hills of Northern Tanzania, I spent three weeks immersed in Maasai culture and built new friendships with Orkeeswa students. I learned and played alongside members of the Orkeeswa community through projects, classes, games, sports, meals, and leadership activities. All of this was focused on the essential question at the heart of my experience: "What is the purpose of education, and in what ways is it connected to the richness of thriving communities?"

I learned how the architects of the Orkeeswa educational experience foster student aspirations and support community initiatives that promote equity, health, prosperity, stewardship of the earth, and creative problem-solving, all with maximum social impact. This GEO was entirely unplugged (no phones), which allowed me to fully immerse myself in the experience and practice a mindful presence that keeps me focused on the learning opportunities before me.