Earlier this year, a group of Year 12 and 13 NCEA and International Baccalaureate (IB) Business and Economics students went on the trip of a lifetime to New York City.
This incredible journey began as a student-led initiative, proposed to staff by a group of passionate Year 13 NCEA Business Studies girls who wanted to explore the business capital of the world. What started as an ambitious dream quickly turned into reality – moving from the classroom to the Head of Business, then to the Board. Before we knew it, we were booked for two weeks in NYC, a testament to QMC’s commitment to providing learning opportunities for students.
The experience was unforgettable. After a 24-hour journey, we arrived in the “Big Apple”, staying in an unbeatable location on 46th Street, just two minutes from Times Square. Over the course of the trip, we were involved in a wide range of inspiring business and cultural experiences. To name a few, we visited innovation hubs, attended entrepreneurial workshops at an American high school, and toured the Federal Reserve Bank.
One of my personal business highlights was getting a behind-the-scenes tour of the Starbucks headquarters in the Empire State Building. We heard from various team members, including the Head of Operations, human resources, architecture, technology, and more. We gained valuable insight into how each area of this multimillion-dollar company operated (the free Starbucks refreshers, pizza and exclusive merchandise were an added bonus!).
Another standout was our visit to Paul, Weiss – one of the largest law firms in New York. It was incredible to see a firm of that scale with a full restaurant in the middle of the office! They shared compelling insights into the multi-billion dollar deals they were working on, including Meta vs. Snapchat. Meeting a female partner at the firm who is originally from New Zealand was particularly inspiring and left a lasting impression on many of us.
Beyond the invaluable business learning, sharing this trip with some of my closest friends during our final year of school made it even more special. We made sure to make the most of it, spending our days attending Broadway shows, shopping on Fifth Avenue and in SoHo, taking in Times Square at midnight, seeing The Starry Night at the Museum of Modern Art, riding the subway, and trying American food staples like Raising Cane’s and Crumbl Cookies.
I cannot speak more highly of this trip and would absolutely recommend it to all future Year 12 and13 Business Studies students. We learnt so much, made lifelong memories, and ticked off a major bucket-list destination – all during a fascinating time to be studying the global economy, with real-world change unfolding around us.
On behalf of the New York crew, we owe a huge thank you to Mr Hardy and Ms Payne for their outstanding efforts, energy and time in making this trip happen. Their organisation, support, and sense of fun truly made this experience what it was.
Sophie Parker, Year 13
