𝙒𝙚𝙣𝙯𝙝𝙤𝙪 𝙆𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙑𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙇𝙃𝙎 𝙁𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨’ 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙖 𝙀𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚
LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ — Just weeks after Linden High School students returned from a transformational educational exchange in China, the global experience came full circle when Philip Connelly, former Executive Vice Chancellor of Wenzhou Kean University and Professor in the School of International Education at Wenzhou University, visited the school for a reflective conversation with participating students.
The April 29 visit provided students with an opportunity to reconnect with the academic and cultural experiences they encountered abroad while gaining deeper insight into the internationally connected university partnership that helped shape part of their journey.
For the students gathered inside the Learning Commons, this was more than a guest presentation. It was a continuation of the learning.
Present for the conversation were Danie Orelien, director of the Multilingual Learners Department; Principal Charles Koonce; Lynn Hu, LHS Chinese and Asian Club advisor and exchange program leader; and Tania Miguelez, secondary supervisor of ESL, Bilingual, and World Languages -- all instrumental in supporting the district’s international exchange initiative and reinforcing thje district’s commitment to impactful teaching and learning experiences that extend beyond classroom walls.
From Global Experience to Global Possibility
Connelly shared insight into the partnership between Kean University and Wenzhou University, explaining how the globally connected institution operates in China while delivering instruction in English under American higher education standards. Students attending the university can earn both American and Chinese degrees, positioning themselves for opportunities in an increasingly interconnected world.
For Linden students who had recently visited the campus themselves during the district’s 10-day China exchange, the discussion carried meaning. Just weeks earlier, many had walked through the university’s classrooms, toured campus life, and explored future academic pathways during Day 4 of the exchange experience, which began April 2.
Now, for some students, what once seemed distant had suddenly become tangible, with Kean University and globally focused educational programs emerging as possible next steps after high school.
“This is exactly the type of authentic, real-world learning experience we want for our students,” said Orelien. “When students can travel across the world, engage with different cultures, step onto international university campuses, and then continue those conversations back home, it changes how they see education, leadership, and their own future possibilities.”
Lessons Beyond Borders
Drawing from philosophy, history, and his own experiences in international education, Connelly encouraged students to think broadly about growth, persistence, and opportunity.
“To move a mountain, you begin by moving stones,” he said, referencing the teachings of Confucius as a reminder that meaningful progress happens step by step. “As long as you have a direction of where you want to go, you just keep moving in that direction.”
Connelly also reflected on the importance of understanding global perspectives and the historical relationship between China and the United States, explaining that cultural understanding and international collaboration are becoming increasingly important in today’s interconnected world.
Because students had recently experienced many of these ideas firsthand, the discussion resonated on a different level.
Learning Through the China Exchange
Over the course of the Linden Public Schools Multilingual Learners Department’s exchange program, students immersed themselves in language, culture, history, and real-world learning across China. From the coastal beauty of Dongtou in Wenzhou -- known as the “Pearls of the East Sea” -- to the historic grandeur of Beijing, students engaged China not as tourists, but as learners. They explored natural landmarks like Baizhangji Waterfall, studied the legacy of Liu Ji, stood in Tiananmen Square, and walked through the vast courtyards of the Forbidden City. They participated in collaborative classroom discussions focused on communication, leadership, and cultural perspectives while strengthening language skills through authentic immersion and global interaction.
The Learning Continues
According to Hu, students returned home with “not only wonderful memories but also a deeper appreciation for cultural understanding and global connection.”
Orelien said the exchange and Connelly’s visit reflect the district’s broader mission to prepare students not only for graduation, but for leadership in a global society.
“At Linden Public Schools, we believe every student deserves access to opportunities that expand their thinking and allow them to see themselves beyond the boundaries of their immediate environment,” Orelien said. “This program embodies our commitment to diversity, instructional excellence, and preparing students to thrive anywhere in the world.”
Inside the Information Commons on April 29, the trip itself may have been over.
But the learning, the relationships, and the global possibilities it inspired were still unfolding.
#LPS_ShowUpAndROAR
