Bryn Athyn College Alumni Magazine Spring/Summer 2018 | Page 23

“All journeys have secret destinations
of which the traveler is unaware.”
— MARTIN BUBER
H
Human society major Alex Hyatt (BA ’18) has been trav-
eling internationally for the better part of the past six years
and doesn’t plan to stop any time soon. When he decided
to attend Bryn Athyn College, he made a deal with him-
self: Since he would be staying close to home for his col-
lege years, he would go out and see the world during his
summers. Alex’s affinity for learning about new cultures
has dovetailed nicely with his major, as he has been able
to attend multiple conferences and seminars through the
years. These experiences have informed his studies and laid
the groundwork for a rich professional network.
A trip to Costa Rica during the summer before ju-
nior year in high school whetted Alex’s appetite for travel.
While abroad, he planted trees, went on guided tours, and
sailed through the rainforest canopy on a zip line. He says,
“From that moment, I knew I wanted to keep traveling.”
Alex’s next trip took place just days after his high
school graduation. He and three of his friends went to Par-
is for a week, touring the sites and figuring out the logistics
of lodging and transportation. Ever the history-lover, Alex
made sure to not only see popular city spots like the Lou-
vre, but also the Normandy beaches.
In the summer between his freshman and sophomore
years at Bryn Athyn College, Alex reached his farthest des-
tination, spending four weeks in Australia and one week
in New Zealand. He and fellow human society major Luke
David (BA ’17) organized a service trip to the New Church
society in Hurstville, Australia, where they were hosted by
the Beiswinger and Heldon families. While there, Alex and
Luke helped renovate the church in addition to adding a
new outdoor worship space. They made rounds to all the
New Church families there, introducing themselves and
generally serving as ambassadors from Bryn Athyn Col-
lege. Rev. Todd Beiswinger (AA ’97) took the pair to vari-
ous spiritual groups, and Alex recalls that he felt particu-
larly useful on that trip. He says, “We helped a lot of people
and learned a lot about ourselves.”
B RY N AT H Y N A LU M N I M AG A Z I N E
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