SOMA Living April 2026

COLUMBIA’S LIFE BEYOND THE SCHOOL

Four decades ago, the average price for a trip to Europe from the United States ran adults about $2,000. Today, Columbia High School offers annual world trips that can cost students upward of $6,000. Perhaps the goal of these trips is to let students’ small‑town interests run wild in the wider creative world, free of parental oversight. For students interested in ecology, this year’s empirical trip to the Galápagos may look especially appetizing. For those who love immersing themselves in old‑world humanities, last year’s journey to Scotland might have been the perfect fit. Despite the financial literacy lesson Columbia may sneak into the itinerary, the trips are ultimately taken for cultural immersion—something MAPSO, in all its maple‑orange goodness, simply cannot replicate.

Beyond the teenage‑getaway appeal, there’s little clarity on what restrictions exist during these excursions. During the 2025 Scotland trip, students toured cities and rural areas before returning home after a week. As one line in the original draft notes, “I suppose that students took on an independent voyage in the hallowed walls of Doune Castle whilst attuned to the bagpipe.” The hope, of course, is that teachers allow enough freedom for students to learn with an open outlook. For the most part, CHS trips are enticing and receive fair reviews from vacation‑alumni. Interest remains high: for the Galápagos trip alone, 189 people have signed up for the info meeting. When a getaway presents itself—even on district‑made QR codes and flyers—students leap at the chance. If only foreign schools felt that way about our MAPSO.

Hatcher Niles is a junior at Columbia High School and a proud member of the class of 2027. This school year, he’s excited about the new FinTech club he is a co-founder of, is finding more ways to volunteer in our community, and is gearing up for college application season.

LIFE COACHING GOT COLLEGE ON THE MIND?

A mother asked me to help her 17-year-old daughter get into college. At first, I kinda chuckled at such a tall order, but what came next was pretty fascinating. Like so many of her classmates, the daughter felt the pressure to know what profession she should do. It was clear that this was dampening her confidence and would likely make her a bit wobbly during college interviews. It’s not about figuring out what they want to do Over the course of the summer, the daughter and I established a rhythm during our sessions that either clarified her innate talents and interests or dove deeper into any ideas we had identified. Each session helped unravel her sense of self—even at such a young age, she was able to bring to the table what made her tick. A clear impact During her interviews, an admissions officer commented they were impressed to meet a young person who had such a clear sense of self. Even though her personality wasn’t outwardly passionate, she had a unique “spike” that differentiated her from her peers. It wasn’t about the job she’d have after graduating—it was about who she is. In the end, she applied early and got in.

Alexis Borman, Life Coach and Writer is a Maplewood resident, soccer mom, and an award-winning writer.

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