Liberty Freshmen Study at Oxford

Posted by admin in All News, Upper & Middle School | 0 comments

It all began with a conversation between Liberty freshmen Logan McDivitt and Chris Svatik. McDivitt said, “I had been searching for an exciting summer camp that would challenge me mentally and provide fun and enjoyment. I was particularly interested in going to school in Europe because I had lived in Frankfurt, Germany, for two years.” 

That conversation eventually led to McDivitt and Svatik being accepted to the Academic Study Associates (ASA) Oxford program. 

Both McDivitt and Svatik had been to London before with their families, but it was exciting to them to think that they would be on their own, taking courses in international relations and finance in an international setting. They said that their learning there was indispensable. 

Svatik said, “I thought the courses were great and very informative. They were just the right amount of work so that we did not feel bogged down or unable to participate in other outside activities. I learned in international relations about how much the world relies on the United States. I also learned about the United Nations and how they operate. We also discussed the current situation in the Middle East and how fragile that has become.  

“ASA also provided all kinds of trips on the weekends so we were able to visit Stonehenge and Bath, attend the Henley Regatta, tour Blenheim Palace, and visit museums in London.” 

McDivitt added, “I learned many things in my courses, such as fundamentals in business and accounting, global market trends, interest rates, and about events such as the Greek debt crisis and how that affects our global economy today. I also had the opportunity to experience the Oxford culture, as well as London and the surrounding area.” 

Both students agreed they were well-prepared for this academic experience, thanks to Liberty.

McDivitt said, “Liberty prepared me academically in all subjects, so I was able to stay up with the other students, even if they were one or two years older than I was. I also had to write papers and give presentations while at Oxford, both of which I have had plenty of experience with at Liberty.” 

Svatik agreed, “Liberty helped me in a tremendous way to prepare for this experience through all of the years I have been here. I was able to participate in class discussions right from the start because of what we had already covered in my math and world history classes at Liberty. I was able to jump right in with the rest of the kids academically, if not ahead of them, and was able to pick right up from where the teacher started and understand what he was referring to when he used certain formulas in finance, for example. Liberty prepared me in the exact way that I needed to be prepared. Liberty is doing a tremendous job with preparing us to go into college and the real world.”  

McDivitt said this trip will help him in the future. “I love all sciences, history, and German. This experience prepared me for the future by exposing me to broader aspects of the business world. I am definitely interested in pursuing an international business degree after I graduate from Liberty.” 

Svatik said this academic experience will help him prepare for the future as well. “I love history and world events. I took international relations because I love to know about all of the events going on in the world and how it changes every day.” He said he believes that the courses he took at Oxford gave him a taste of the courses he would like to take in college. 

Svatik said that in his Oxford classes, he was given feedback on his essays and presentations by his teachers there, and their input has already helped him with presentations and essays he has written in his first nine weeks as a sophomore at Liberty. 

He said that in addition to the growth academically that he experienced, he enjoyed the cultural aspect of his trip. 

“One of the best things about the program was the opportunity to interact with students from different countries. Because of the international students who were in my class, primarily from Columbia, Turkey, and Spain, I was able to learn about other countries and their political systems and culture. I also learned that there are not as many Christians in the world as I once thought. Logan and I were the only Christians there, although we learned a lot about other religions from the students in the program. 

“Overall, I loved the entire program, and I keep in contact with my many new friends from around the world and across the United States.” 

Svatik’s mother, Dale, said that from a parent’s point of view, this program her son was a part of was a great experience. 

She said, “From a parent perspective, the Academic Study Associates program did a fabulous job. Their communication between the program staff and the parents was excellent throughout the program. Their website was informative, and the staff was available by phone or e-mail at all times before the program began. The information they sent out answered all of our questions, like how students are transported from Heathrow Airport to Oxford, to the best ways to access cash overseas, and how to call home. 

“While the students were at Oxford, we were kept updated by weekly e-mails that included videos and pictures. ASA also offered plenty of sightseeing opportunities on the weekends, as well as many activities that promoted teacher/student interaction outside of the classroom, like soccer games, lectures, and field trips.  

“We felt that ASA provided just the right amount of supervision. The students had a schedule and certain rules to follow, but were also given a lot of freedom within those boundaries to increase their independence. Living in a dorm gave them a good taste of college life, including doing their own laundry! 

“We would highly recommend the ASA program to any Liberty student that would like a different kind of learning experience, and one that is sure to smooth the transition between living at home for high school and going away to college.” 

McDivitt concluded, “My experience at Oxford was awesome and truly something I will never forget. I not only learned many things, but I also had the opportunity to live and study with fellow students from many different countries and other parts of the U.S.” 

Liberty congratulates McDivitt and Svatik for their academic success at Liberty and abroad, and for representing their school and the Lord with distinction.