Successful launch: ‘Rocket Kids’ return from abroad with new perspective, passion

Alejandra Cardona Guzman has always considered herself something of an indecisive person. However the San Diego State University child development senior returned from a summer abroad with the program Rocket Kids exuding newfound confidence about her future path.

“I think this experience really helped me decide what I want to do, and that's teaching,” Cardona Guzman said. “I just love working with kids. I feel so much clarity now. Multiple subject credential here I come!"

Rocket Kids, a new international experiential learning program launched by the University of Toledo, sends U.S. college students abroad to provide educational and recreational programming to the children of U.S. Army service members based in Europe. 

Over the summer, 19 students from the SDSU College of Education's liberal studies and child development majors took part in the 11-week experience. They were placed across four countries: Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy. 

Cardona Guzman worked with students at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria in Grafenwoehr, Germany. Her COE classmate Paulette Nungaray, a liberal studies senior, was also placed in Germany, at U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach. 

Nungaray’s experience was similarly transformative. Initially hesitant to go abroad at all because she didn’t want to be away from her close-knit family, she’s already planning to apply to Rocket Kids again next summer. 

“Before the program I was like, heck no I'm not leaving my family, I'm staying here,” said Nungaray, who grew up in San Diego’s South Bay community and had never before left North America. “But I think being able to experience different countries and having the liberty to go explore was just amazing. 

“I didn't realize how much the Army does for their youth. Working with the kids opened my mind to this whole world and now it's something I'm really interested in doing post-grad — teaching abroad.”

Rocket Kids (named for the Rockets of University of Toledo athletics) is something of a unique study abroad program for the financial incentives that it offers. Airfare and lodging — either at a hotel or private residences — is provided, as is a $25 daily stipend. In exchange, students work full-time, five days a week at on-base child care centers.

Ultimately, that may be more of a feature than a catch. 

“Initially I went in with the idea that I was going to enjoy the traveling more, but as I got to meet the kids and grow the connections with them, that’s what I enjoyed the most,” said Nungaray, who is specializing in bilingual elementary education with the intention of becoming a kindergarten teacher.

At Ansbach — a small but charming town two hours outside Munich — Nungaray ran the childcare center’s arts and crafts room. 

“I think I've always known I wanted to be an educator so working in that setting has always been an environment that I thrive in,” she added. So being surrounded by these sassy little kids, they just made me crack up so much. You don't really realize the bonds you’re forming with them until you're leaving.”

Nungaray also relished the chance to network with and befriend the staff, many of whom are  military spouses. At the end of the program, the center’s director even offered her a job.

At Grafenwoehr, Cardona Guzman worked at the school-age center with children kindergarten through fifth grade. She and her fellow Rocket Kids assisted each staff teacher as they led activities. They also led what’s called the Morning Blitz, leading all the center’s children in song to set the tone for the day.

“Every time I listen to a specific song on the ‘Moana’ soundtrack I cry because it reminds me of the kids,” Cardona Guzman said. “I feel like they were the ones who had the most impact on me, and I feel like I didn't realize that until it was coming to an end.”

That’s not to say the weekends — where the Rocket Kids are free to explore Europe so long as they traveled with a buddy and were back for a Sunday night curfew — weren’t enjoyable, as well.

Every Friday night, Nungaray and her fellow travelers would head to the intercity rail station for a new adventure. Her excursions took her to Italy, Austria, the Netherlands and France. She smiled wide as she recounted FaceTiming her entire family from the Eiffel Tower.

Cardona Guzman, who grew up in Sacramento and had never crossed an ocean before, visited Austria, Slovenia, France and the Czech Republic. She even loved Prague so much that she went twice.

In all, Rocket Kids gave her a new perspective — not just on the world, but on herself.

“Before I would often put myself down or feel like I was not enough,” Cardona Guzman said. “But this program gave me that confidence in myself. Even my parents said I came back different. I thought, ‘I'm abroad by myself: If I can do this, I can do anything.’”