Hey there, Glimpsers!

My name is Shannon Finnegan and I will be one of your Global Glimpse Leaders traveling with you to Esteli, Nicaragua on July 3. I am SO excited for our experience together, and I can’t wait to meet each of you in just a couple of weeks! I have had a great time reading your posts from your applications and learning more about you. You can look forward to receiving an email and phone call or two from either myself or my co-leader in the coming weeks.

I have taught 9th and 10th grade Global History at the School for Democracy and Leadership in Brooklyn, NY for the past 3 years. I also help run our Youth Ambassadors program, or student government, and teach a theatre elective class as well. I am originally from Minnesota, where I taught high school social studies for five years before moving to NYC in 2013. When I first came to New York, I attended graduate school at New York University and received my Master’s degree in International Education. I love learning about other cultures, and I can’t wait to travel with you this summer as it will be my first time traveling to Central America.

I am so in awe of each of you and the courage it takes to seek out an opportunity like Global Glimpse! I always wanted to travel abroad or study abroad when I was younger, but I was too scared and anxious to do so. When I moved to NY, I decided to not let fear or money hold me back from the life experiences I wanted to have, so I took opportunities to study abroad in both Dominican Republic and Ghana as part of my Master’s program. These experiences were life changing and I am so grateful that I was able to have them. I am so excited that you all have the courage to push yourselves to travel abroad at this stage in your lives! If you are feeling nervous or anxious in the coming weeks, you are not alone! Keep pushing yourself and you won’t regret it, I promise.

A little bit about me – I am a history nerd (obviously). I love theatre and baseball, enjoy traveling, really love sleeping (I’m a little nervous about our middle of the night flight time!), love laughing (especially at corny jokes or puns), and I like playing board games and cards. Here are some of my favorites: movie – The Godfather, food – Pizza or Tacos, drink – Coca Cola Classic, movie snack – Sour Patch Kids, part of NYC – Brooklyn Bridge Park, part of my job – my STUDENTS!

That’s all for now! See you all in 16 sleeps and 16 wake ups!

Last summer I traveled to the set of the movie Field of Dreams in Dyersville, IA