In 2015 and 2016, Gabriela Baghdady boarded planes from Connecticut to Guatemala as a high school sophomore and junior, not entirely sure what to expect. She traveled with her classmates from Laurelton Hall to the communities of Tuluche II and Choaxon as part of School the World’s service-learning program. What she found there would influence her academic journey, her career choices, and the way she hopes to make an impact in the world.
Gabriela remembers the trips vividly. Even as a teenager, she was struck by the warmth and hospitality of the communities she and her peers worked alongside. “Even with the language barrier, the communities were so welcoming,” she recalls. “Seeing parents and children building their future with us was unforgettable.”
The experience opened her eyes to School the World’s unique model—how parents, communities, and local governments all share responsibility in ensuring children access a quality education. That sense of collaboration left a lasting impression: education wasn’t something given; it was something built together.
On those trips, Gabriela also connected with School the World’s founder, Kate Curran, whose background in law and decision to channel her skills into education and poverty alleviation resonated deeply. Already curious about a legal career, Gabriela found inspiration in Kate’s example: law could be a pathway to creating social impact.
Back home, she carried those lessons with her. In college, Gabriela studied International Relations at Johns Hopkins University, focusing on how global systems shape opportunities for people across borders. Her questions of equity and access more than academic—they were personal, rooted not only in memories of classrooms being built in Guatemala by communities determined to give their children a chance, but also in her own family history, where her grandparents had far fewer educational opportunities than she and her sister have today.
After graduation, Gabriela continued to explore how education shapes futures by joining Teach for America. In her Baltimore classroom, she saw parallels to her experiences abroad: the resilience of students, the importance of family involvement, and the role education plays in opening doors. Teaching algebra—a subject outside her personal comfort zone—was challenging, was deeply rewarding as she saw her students gradually build confidence. It gave her a clearer view of the gaps and needs her students faced at home and strengthened her commitment to working on systemic solutions—ones that ensure education is not only accessible, but transformative.
This fall, Gabriela begins her first year of law school in Chicago, with an interest in public interest law and education policy. When writing her personal statement, she drew directly on her School the World experience, explaining how those service trips had influenced her vision of the lawyer—and the changemaker—she hopes to become.
“I talked about how those experiences informed the type of person I want to be as a lawyer,” Gabriela says. “I’m interested in work that supports education, and School the World really shaped that.”
For students and professionals considering a service trip with School the World, Gabriela has a message: this is more than just a travel experience. It’s an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, learn from resilient communities, and see firsthand how education transforms lives. She emphasized that while the work is not easy, it is deeply rewarding—and that students should be ready to listen, learn, and let the experience shape them. The perspective you gain doesn’t end when the trip does—it shapes how you see the world, and the role you want to play in it.
At School the World, we are proud to celebrate Gabriela’s journey. From high school student in Guatemala to law school student in Chicago, her story reflects the lasting influence of our service-learning program: building not just schools, but pathways for young people to carry forward a commitment to education, equity, and community wherever they go.