As Linden High School kicks off a new school year, three students are returning to class with stories unlike any others.
Over the summer, they traveled halfway around the world to China, exploring ancient landmarks like the Great Wall and forging friendships that span continents. Now, just days into the new school year, they are sharing those experiences with classmates — and seeing their education through a whole new lens.
From 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙚 27 𝙩𝙤 𝙅𝙪𝙡𝙮 5, 𝙟𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙣 𝙋𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙚, 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙧 𝘼𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝘽𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙤, 𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 17 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙅𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 10-𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢 organized through a partnership between Linden Public Schools’ Multilingual Learners Department and the New Jersey Chinese Teachers Association (NJCTA).
𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹
For Lin Lin Hu, Linden High School’s Chinese language teacher and trip chaperone, the journey represented the very heart of her department’s mission.
“I feel very lucky to be working under such a great visionary leader like Ms. Danie Orelien,” Hu said, referring to the district’s Director of Multilingual Learners. “She always encourages us to create opportunities for students beyond the four walls of the classroom. This exchange was exactly that — a chance for them to learn courage, culture, and connection.”
Orelien explained that the department is dedicated to preparing students to become global citizens, not only through rigorous academics but by offering real-world experiences that connect them to the wider world.
“Conflicts happen because there’s no communication and no cultural understanding,” Orelien said. “Trips like this allow students to see beyond headlines and stereotypes. They experience a country like China firsthand and come home with a broader worldview. That’s how we prepare them to become the future problem solvers of the world.”
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗽: 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀
For the three Linden High School students, this was a journey of many firsts.
Stuart Wilson
Wilson had never traveled beyond North America before. “I saw it as an opportunity,” he said. “Most people I know will never see the Great Wall or the Forbidden City. For me, it was like a whole new world opened up.”
That moment hit home when Wilson used his Mandarin skills to help a fellow traveler ask for directions. “It wasn’t just practice — it was real,” he said with a grin. “It made everything we’d learned in class come alive.”
Devin Pierre
Pierre described the experience as “surreal” and full of contrasts.
“Everything was shifted — the food, the art, the clothing, even how the cities worked,” Pierre said. “It was amazing to see how modern China is in some places while still holding on to so much tradition. It made me look at America differently.”
Aaron Buccino,
Buccino, a senior and NJROTC cadet, said the trip was nothing short of life-changing.
“My first plane ride, my first trip outside America — and it was China,” he said. “Climbing the Great Wall was surreal. History came alive. The people were so kind and welcoming. It really opened my eyes to what it means to be part of a larger world.”
𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄
The group spent time in Beijing and Hebei Province, where they stayed at Hebei University and connected with local students. They also explored historic landmarks, including the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City, and were captivated by the famous Avatar Mountains, whose dramatic peaks seemed to rise straight out of a painting.
What struck the Linden students most was China’s unique blend of past and present.
“You’d see a historic street that looked like ancient China,” Wilson said. “But step inside, and there’s air-conditioning, polished tile floors — all the modern comforts. It’s two worlds merged together.”
Pierre agreed. “It made me realize how young America is. Our history goes back a few hundred years. Their history goes back thousands.”
𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗢𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀
Beyond breathtaking sights, the trip was about building relationships.
“We met other students at Hebei University and exchanged WeChats,” Pierre said. “We still talk. It’s cool to have friends on the other side of the world — it shows that connections can last across continents.”
The exchange also gave the Linden students a chance to share their own culture.
“They wanted to learn about us just as much as we wanted to learn about them,” Buccino said. “It was about understanding, not just visiting.”
𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿
As the new school year begins, Wilson, Pierre, and Buccino are adjusting back to their routines — but with a new perspective. They’ve already begun sharing their stories with classmates and are eager to inspire other students to seize similar opportunities.
“These young men will be the faces of our exchange program,” Orelien said. “They’ll inspire their peers to step out of their comfort zones, whether that’s taking a language class, joining the Chinese Club, or signing up for next year’s trip.”
Plans are underway for the students to meet with Mayor Derek Armstead and local organizations to discuss their experiences. Orelien believes these follow-up events are essential to keeping the momentum alive.
“We can’t stop at the trip,” she said. “This is about building bridges right here in Linden.”
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀
For Orelien, this program is about more than travel — it’s about preparing students for the world they’ll inherit.
“Every country in the world deals with China,” she said. “If we don’t expose our students to these global realities now, we’re not preparing them to lead in the future. These trips give them the knowledge, confidence, and perspective to succeed.”
Hu summed it up simply:
“They left as Linden students. They came back as world citizens.”