Prospect Hill Academy New Orleans 2025
June 9, 2025
We have heard about junior journey since ninth grade, a hallmark of the PHA high school experience. It was not until that ¨BEEP-BEEP-BEEP¨ of our alarms from 2AM-4AM that the grueling yet exciting reality of a week we had ahead bared its true face. Faces at the airport were a mix of eagerness for what was to come but also a yearning for the comfort of our beds and cuddles of our pets we had to part from for five days. Despite some of us never having been to the airport, security went well and not long after that we were up in the air. Neither the students nor PHA chaperones had partook in junior journey before so the fresh experience was about equally anxious and joyous to us all. Not long after getting out luggage and meeting the two Global Works facilitators was the dreaded moment we knew awaited us all…
¨Alright its time!¨ Ms. Grover declared and with that the phones were collected. Without the gateway of infinite information and countless contacts at our fingertips we had lunch together. Not together as in we are all seated in the same part of a restaurant while we partake in different group chats, games and internet rabbit holes at once instead we had a shared conversation with the people around us.
It was freeing in an odd way. None of us were bound to needing to answer our parents’ texts nor the messages from our friends so far away as we were ¨not in Kansas¨ anymore. Though instead of being from away from the boring farm filled monotony of Kansas in the great magical world of Oz we were but people of Massachusetts. Bostonians away from our beloved beloved Dunkins and albeit annoying our somewhat beloved system of trains and buses that we were a week away from using once more. Now we were in the hot humid sun of the home of Jazz; New Orleans, Louisiana.
Walking through the humid sun we were not greeted by a yellow brick road to guide our path but instead the burning yellow rays of the sun. Instead of being chased by a witch, we were being tormented by dehydration. Regardless of your stamina, experience level and age it was an important lesson to DRINK WATER. As the rocking of the floating cabins ferried us off into dreamland we were now truly informed and ready to take on the dangers of this journey ahead.
By Jaden G.
June 10, 2025
Tuesday, June 10th was the first full day we spent in New Orleans, Louisiana. We started the day by going to the Tree of Life where we stated our norms and expectations for the rest of the trip. After long discussions we all essentially agreed on the basics like respecting each other and the spaces we inhabit, and if we need something simply ask for it. After that was the Jazz Museum where we learned about the history of jazz in NOLA and how it affected Louisiana culture becoming what it is today. I vividly remember learning about the congo and how people protested there. Even when it was considered illegal. Outside the Museum was a local street market where I unfortunately couldn’t buy anything due to forgetting my wallet. There were these cool goggles that looked like something out of a steampunk story! Sadly they were $30 and again, I had no money. The heat was bad but a snowcone bought by one of my good friends saved me enough to last the rest of the time out.
After a car ride filled with 2010 pop songs, we went to Leona Tate’s old First grade classroom which was turned into an exhibit founded by herself. We learned about the aftereffects of the supreme case Brown V Board that allowed Black students to integrate into White schools. Leona Tate and two of her friends were the first of 3 Black people to be integrated, with obvious disapproval from some White people. We learned of her story transferring from schools to schools enduring hardships and eventually It was a shock to see her pop in after the video. It was like one of these Disney shows where a guest star appeared and the whole crowd started cheering!
After eating pizza and going back to the cabins was probably our favorite part of the day. Local musicians named Baba Marcus and Kari Jay came and performed songs and told stories about the area, known as Bubancha! They began telling stories and singing about the traditions of New Orleans (NOLA) and West Africa. Their voices were powerful, and the way they shared their culture made the experience really engaging. As a West African myself, I found it especially interesting to see those deep cultural connections come to life.
Later, we did a Soul Train line where everyone took turns singing, dancing, and cheering each other on. The energy in the room was amazing—so vibrant and full of life. It didn’t matter who you were or how well you could dance; everyone got involved and had fun. The music, the laughter, and the movement made it one of the most memorable parts of the day. It felt like a true celebration of culture, community, and joy.
By Shola
June 11, 2025
Hey! Today was… wet. It rained during almost every activity, and while I am used to Massachusetts rain this was just something else, because you’re so ready for the heat all day and then next thing you know you are being pelted with heavy rain, and then its hot again, and then it’s rainy again, and then it’s hot and so forth!
Today we went to the Whitney Plantation and it was a lot. We learned more about a slavery that we hadn’t really known before, like how the people were able to recount their childhood experiences after over fifty years. When you put that in perspective how far into your past can you recount in perfect detail, it’s just not easy because there isn’t anything notable, but for these people their whole childhood was lost to slavery and that is just something that stays with you for life.
We went to Studio Be as our last activity and there was a lot of very beautiful art. The art was different from most things you see and even now I am still thinking about what some of the pieces might have been about. Like there was this one piece that was panels of wood with holes in them and there was a tv behind it and I am not sure if there was something specific that was supposed to be showcased but on the tv it was just the apps like Hulu, Netflix, Prime Video, and etc and that was funny and interesting to me because even though that might not have been what it was supposed to be but it was art and it was cool.
At the beginning of this trip I didn’t think I was going to be able to survive without my phone but now I barely feel the urge to use it, and we are connected in other ways now. Like when we are driving we get to play our favorite songs, and we all talk to each other all the time now because what else? Now I have learned that I don’t really need my phone to actually have fun, and I think that the fun I’m having now is better than the fun I had with my phone.
Today cabin 10 is making us food and we are gonna have a game night! Tomorrow my cabin is going to be making breakfast and we have to do it early because we have to leave early for tomorrow but I think we will be able to do it, because this trip is making me feel like I can do anything strangely enough so I hope that our breakfast is great.
By Morgan W.
June 12, 2025
Our last day in New Orleans consisted of our community service, planting weeds in a lake. It wasn’t at all what I expected. We had to enter the lake to plant and were told the soil was like sand and we got totally wet!
They forgot the quick part of the sand. The soil was sucking me up. Moving around in that was harder than any hit workout I’ve tried, and we didn’t receive the suits so any clothing we wore either had to be thrown out or really well washed.
Baby crawling was the fastest and most efficient method of movement. We went along the coast of the land searching for bags that contained the weed. It felt like following a treasure map.
While planting the weeds, we had to make sure the roots of them were really stuck in the soil and 5 feet apart. I was knee deep and elbow deep in that soil. The outer was harsh but the inner was so soft and overall, had a muddy texture. I was playing with the soil after finishing my pile of weeds.
Hearing the reactions of my classmates and teachers was funny. This was a new challenge for everybody and we were all laughing up a storm. It was difficult to adjust, but knowing we were all experiencing first new feelings and the reward of just floating in the lake water a little farther than the weeds was very comforting. It was beautiful scenery, watching the sun reflect on the waves. Knowing I was contributing to the good of this environment felt like an achievement.
There was a point where it started to rain and the wind got so strong. It was honestly awesome. What got me was the fact I said ”Imagine it starts raining right before it actually did.” The rain added to the adventurous vibe.
The service was about 4 hours but it felt shorter. Despite it only being a day of work, it was difficult. I completely underestimated it. Even so, the experience was messy and fun. Putting aside the false expectations and the hassle of cleaning myself and my clothes afterwards.
After the service I downed 2 and a half BLTs made by Cabin 7 of our group. A BLT with a side of exhaustion hits and the nap after was spectacular. Little moments like those make my day.
We had about 2 hours of downtime which I used to organize my things and shower with my special anti-bacterial soap. For our last dinner, we went out to a restaurant named Nonnos. I ordered the saluted shrimp salad and it was delicious. It actually made me like pepper. Green pepper is my favorite.
Our waiter was pretty cool. When the group was singing along with the 2000s and 90s songs on the big TV, he was pleasantly shocked. He was like ”you were 2 when this came out?! Who taught you this?” It was so funny.
On the car ride back, me and my van group were being stupidly loud, but I took a little time to admire the bonding happening around me. I got much closer with people I hadn´t talked to for the whole of junior year and ended up making great new friendships and acquaintances. I’m very grateful for the people on this trip. Today was a great wrap up for my last night here in New Orleans.
-Laura R.
