Villeage Voices: The Transformative Power of Travel

By John Hughes, director of experiential education

John Hughes has traversed the globe, exploring over 40 countries not just as a tourist, but as an educator. Whether trekking Patagonia, kayaking across the Tasman Bay in New Zealand, hiking the Grand Canyon, or savoring an espresso in a Parisian bistro, Hughes infuses each journey with a spirit of adventure. It’s something that he eagerly shares with Lawrenceville students and faculty alike as he leads the School’s Harkness Travel Programs. In this edition of Villeage Voices, Hughes offers insights into the transformative power of travel and its profound impact on personal growth and global awareness.

Travel is not just about seeing new places—it’s about seeing with new eyes. Unlike tourism, which often centers on personal enjoyment and relaxation, travel demands full engagement with the world. It is an act of inquiry, a mindset of openness and learning.  It requires us to be curious, to embrace discomfort, to accept both the hits and the misses, and to marvel at the unexpected. Who are you in this place? What makes this culture and its people tick? How do you navigate the unfamiliar? These are the questions that define a traveler.

I first learned this lesson in the summer of 1990, when I lived with a host family in Beijing. As a (below average) Mandarin student, thrown into a culture entirely different from my own, I was forced to adapt, to learn, and to embrace whatever came my way. At first, I felt like a celebrity—my six-foot frame and blond hair drew attention everywhere. Then I felt overwhelmed. But eventually, I surrendered to the experience, to the discomfort, and to the transformation it sparked within me. That summer shaped the way I see the world, and even decades later, I trace the roots of my passion for experiential education back to that time.

When I first presented this year’s travel opportunities at a School Meeting, Student Council President Eli Lacey ’25 joined me on stage to share his own summer experience living with a host family in rural China. Supported by a Viault Family International Fund scholarship, Eli spent several weeks in an immersive homestay program where he—like me, unmistakably foreign—was thrust into a setting both unfamiliar and unforgettable. He described, with humility and humor, the daily challenges of communicating in Mandarin, of standing out in every village, and of adapting to a different rhythm of life. But what captivated the room were the photos of Eli with his host siblings, enjoying family life, laughing. His reflections were deeply personal, but also undeniably universal—about the bonds that form when you lean into discomfort and open yourself to others. His story, his joy, his growth—his energy—spread through the Kirby Arts Center, reminding us all that the purpose of travel isn’t simply to visit new places, but to allow those places, and the people in them, to shape us.

This March, over 100 Lawrenceville students traveled the world through our Harkness Travel Program. Their reflections reaffirm what I have always believed: travel is one of the most powerful forms of education. One student shared, "Not having my phone allowed me to make meaningful connections and live in the present." Another wrote, "Life without a cellphone is the most freeing thing I have ever experienced. I genuinely did not want my phone back at the end of the trip." In a time when constant digital connection is the norm, these insights speak volumes about the value of immersive, unplugged experiences.

Other students found themselves reflecting on identity and cultural perspective: "Another thing I noticed was the lack of diversity in the country we visited, which was even more apparent because of how diverse our own group was. This made me reflect on the environment that Lawrenceville provides." Another shared, "To see the very simple but joyful life in Bougamez was really impactful and allowed me to reflect a lot on my own life." These observations highlight the way travel stretches our understanding of both others and ourselves.

In just a few months, I will return to China—this time with nine Lawrentians. It will be my first time back since that summer of 1990. I know the country has changed, but I also know that the essence of travel remains the same. Watching my students navigate their own transformative experiences, just as I did years ago, will be a reminder of why this work matters. In an era when the world is becoming more insular, travel remains a vital counterbalance. It fosters connection, challenges assumptions, and expands our capacity for empathy and understanding. More than ever, we need travelers—not just tourists.

For more information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.