Two Wylie students share why traveling abroad became about much more than the places they visited.
Wylie Group 2026
For Madi Branch, one of the strongest memories from Greece came with black sand beneath her feet and crystal-clear water stretching out from Santorini. For Shelton Ruthenbeck, it came a little earlier - looking out an airplane window as the flight attendant announced they were finally over Greece.
For both Wylie High School students, the trip offered something a picture or textbook simply could not.
Madi on Right
Madi had traveled internationally with her family before, but this was different. She was traveling without her parents, meeting students she might never have known otherwise and learning to handle some of the little responsibilities that suddenly feel much bigger when you are thousands of miles from home.
Like keeping up with your passport.
Normally, Madi said, her dad handled that job. In Greece, the passport stayed safely tucked in her fanny pack.
“That fanny pack never left my side,” she laughed.
She returned home feeling more confident and independent, along with new friendships, a better understanding of another culture and, perhaps most importantly after several days of Greek food, a renewed appreciation for a chicken quesadilla.
Shelton Ruthenbeck
For Shelton, Greece was his first trip outside the United States. He remembers the nerves of flying over the ocean, but also the moment those nerves gave way to excitement as Greece appeared below.
Once on the ground, he found himself standing inside historic churches, learning bits of Greek and seeing places like Santorini with his own eyes instead of through someone else’s Instagram feed.
One of his favorite moments came when he greeted a shopkeeper in Greek. She was surprised enough by his accent to ask if he was Greek.
He was not. But for a moment, he had managed to connect with someone in her language - exactly the kind of experience that is difficult to recreate from home.
“There’s a lot of things in the world that you’re not going to be able to see,” Shelton said. “So take as many opportunities as you can to experience something else.”
That opportunity is opening again for Wylie High School families.
The 2027 trip will take students through Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland, with planned experiences in Vienna, Prague, Munich and Zurich.
Families interested in learning more are invited to an informational and enrollment meeting Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 5:45 p.m. in the WHS Cafeteria. The meeting will cover the itinerary, student growth and academic opportunities, payment options and scholarships, safety, and how enrollment works.
An RSVP is required for enrollment and eligibility for the $150 enrollment discount. Once enrollment opens, a $95 deposit secures a student’s spot, with space filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
RSVP: https://rsvp.eftours.com/ch434yc
Madi’s advice to students who are unsure is considerably shorter than the flight to Europe.
“Just do it.”
Because sometimes the biggest lesson from traveling halfway around the world is discovering just how much bigger your own world can become.
Please note: This is not a Wylie ISD or school-sponsored trip. Travel is coordinated through EF Educational Tours and includes a trained EF Tour Director.