Discovery School

I found the best way to describe my job as a Discovery Trip Coordinator is in terms of roles within a school, least of which is remembering that I am a student myself (see the last paragraph!)

For example, on any given day I may work in any or all of the following 'offices':
 

1) Admissions: interviewing applicants and helping them decide if Discovery is the right program for them.
2) Registrar: Deciding what role they may have on the trip, as well as keeping the needs of the overseas team in mind; figuring out what is available in terms of experiences for them overseas.

3) Financial Aid: informing and assisting applicants as they process what it means to invite others into partnership with them through prayer and finances.
4) Personal Advisor: Forever answering questions like, "what should I wear?" "can I bring my computer on the trip?" "will I learn another language" "what will we eat?" "will they have coffee?"
5) Curriculum Design : Updating and modifying training materials for a South Asian context - figuring out the best hands-on experiences for Discovery students to have a successful orientation to life on the field.
6) Post Office: Packaging trip packets (containing training materials) and mailing them across the country to different participants so they may have the tools needed to prepare for the trip.
7) Teaching Staff : Interacting with students as they go through the training materials, leading up to the trip - including group discussion boards and reviewing homework.
8) Practicum Liaison  -  before, during, and post-trip mediating and enabling communication between the participants and the field staff.
9) Operations (aka: Travel Agent): arranging planes, trains, and rickshaw– dates, prices, locations, most efficient routes.  It’s what I do best!  Also, determining what type of roof (if any :-) will be over the participants head in different cities, and what will keep the team physically nourished day to day.
10) Counseling: From the beginning to the end of the trip, and afterwards, I am responsible for helping students process their experiences.  Pre-field orientation prepares students for a life-changing experience.  The insights gained during post trip debrief help the Discovery team know how to improve trips for the future, but most importantly, it gives participants insight into their next steps in missions, whatever that might look like.

Of course, my last and most important role is that of a LEARNER.  Just as we challenge our Discovery participants to take on the attitude of a learner when they enter into another culture, I too must embrace this posture as I lead and guide these individuals.