10 Patriots, Two Countries, One Powerful Global Classroom
What happens when ten students leave their comfort zones and step into a global conversation on the other side of the world? While traveling to South Korea and Japan, Carrollwood Day School students discovered that leadership is not learned in a classroom alone, but lived through courageous dialogue, shared experiences, and the willingness to connect across cultures.
Ten Carrollwood Day School students recently represented CDS on an international learning journey through South Korea and Japan as part of a Round Square Global Conference, themed A Baraza for Hope in Sustainable Culture. The experience combined leadership dialogue, cultural immersion, and real-world collaboration with students from around the world, exactly the kind of learning that prepares Patriots for an increasingly connected future.
At CDS, global learning is not a single course or a unit of study. It is a mindset. As an International Baccalaureate school, students are guided to think internationally, reflect ethically, and act with purpose. Through inquiry-based learning, intercultural understanding, and community engagement, CDS students grow into confident global citizens. Round Square takes this commitment one step further by giving students the opportunity to live those values in real time through international conferences, exchanges, and service experiences.
A Global Conference in South Korea
The journey began in South Korea at the Round Square Global Conference hosted by Cheongshim International Academy. Thirteen schools representing ten countries came together under the theme: “A Baraza for Hope in Sustainable Culture. ” The word Baraza means a public meeting place, and throughout the conference, students experienced exactly that. They shared ideas, perspectives, and challenges around how cultures are preserved, celebrated, and sometimes lost in a rapidly changing world. What makes Round Square conferences uniquely powerful is the way students live and learn together. CDS students worked side by side with peers from different countries, languages, and backgrounds. Despite their differences, every group discovered common values, shared concerns, and a collective desire to create positive change.
Inside the Conference Experience
The conference opened with a vibrant cultural ceremony featuring traditional Korean dance and music, martial arts performances, and contemporary K-pop showcases. It set the tone for a week focused on both heritage and innovation. Students then joined Baraza breakout groups, where each participant brought real examples from their own country about how culture is sustained or challenged. These discussions pushed students to think critically about identity, community responsibility, and global influence. One of the most memorable days blended teamwork and tradition through a “Squid Game”-inspired cultural competition. Students learned and played traditional Korean games such as Tuho, Jegichagi, and Ddakji, alongside more familiar sports like basketball and tug-of-war.
During Culture Night, every country shared something meaningful from home through music and dance. Two CDS students embraced the spirit of risk-taking and taught fellow delegates how to line dance, turning a cultural exchange into a joyful, shared experience. The conference concluded with a closing ceremony where each Baraza group presented what they had learned about sustaining culture and building hope across communities. For many students, this moment was their first experience presenting collaborative work to a truly global audience.
Extending Learning Continues in Japan
Following the conference, students traveled to Japan for a four-day cultural immersion designed to deepen their understanding of history, innovation, and everyday life. The experience began in Osaka with a visit to the Cup Noodles Museum Ikeda, where students explored Japanese innovation and creativity through hands-on exhibits and created their own custom noodle cups. The day concluded in the lively Dotonbori district, offering a firsthand look at modern urban culture and street food traditions.
In Kyoto, students walked through centuries of history, visiting temples, shrines, and traditional neighborhoods. Highlights included the iconic Kinkaku-ji and the striking pathway of thousands of torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha. The day ended with a group reflection session, allowing students to process what they were seeing and how cultural values are preserved through architecture, ritual, and community life.
In Nara, students explored sacred sites and natural spaces, including encounters with the deer of Nara Park and a visit to Todai-ji Temple, home to the Great Buddha. Reflection time once again created space for students to connect historical tradition with the ideas they had discussed during the conference in South Korea.
In Osaka, the journey concluded with a day at Universal Studios Japan, offering a lighter cultural lens through modern entertainment and global media.
Why Round Square Matters for CDS Students
Round Square experiences are not trips designed around sightseeing. They are intentionally structured learning environments that develop character, leadership, and perspective. Through Round Square, students live the organization’s core ideals of international understanding, democracy, environmental responsibility, adventure, leadership, and service. These ideals align naturally with the IB learner profile and with CDS’s mission to educate students who think deeply, act responsibly, and contribute meaningfully to the world.
During this journey, CDS students practiced:
- listening to unfamiliar perspectives with empathy
- communicating ideas across language and cultural differences
- presenting collaborative solutions to real global challenges
- stepping outside comfort zones with confidence and curiosity
Most importantly, students discovered that global citizenship is built through relationships. Living, learning, and reflecting alongside peers from ten different countries transformed abstract concepts about culture and sustainability into personal responsibility. This Round Square experience in South Korea and Japan did more than create lasting memories. It strengthened students’ voices, expanded their worldview, and reinforced the belief that meaningful change begins when young people are given the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and lead beyond borders.
How have you embraced risk-taking this school year? Share your experience with the MARCOM Department for a chance to be featured on the Portrait of a Patriot Blog.