Show Me The World Project Alumni Spotlight: Sep’Tisha Riley
From First Chapter to First Teacher: Sep’Tisha’s 12 Years with SMTW
Show Me The World Project Alum, Sep’Tisha, has been involved with SMTW since the beginning. In 2012, she was among the first chapter of students to travel with SMTW to Costa Rica. Now, in 2024, she leads the first-ever SMTW Class as the lead teacher.
This SMTW Class at Kairos Academies stands out from our other SMTW programs because it’s fully integrated into the school day, offering a more immersive and hands-on experience. We’ve partnered with the Next Prep program to serve as the entrepreneurship pathway for junior-year students. Unlike our traditional after-school programs, this initiative embeds Show Me The World into the core curriculum, allowing students to engage more deeply with entrepreneurship over the course of their school year.
Sep’Tisha leads this class, teaching our SMTW curriculum with an enhanced focus on entrepreneurship. Students won’t just learn business concepts—they will actively apply them by opening and managing an SMTW Coffee Shop within their school. This provides real-world experience in running a business, from operations to customer service, giving students invaluable skills that they can carry forward. The program’s structure creates an environment where students can continuously develop their entrepreneurial mindset while aligning with their academic goals. This hands-on approach, integrated into the school day, makes it unique and transformative.
Hear about her SMTW journey and what Chapter 1 Educator/our Executive Director, Samantha Lurie, has to say…
“As someone who directly benefited from the program, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative it can be. Knowing that I’m part of something that’s providing life-changing opportunities is.” The combination of educational experiences, leadership development, and global travel is life-changing, and it’s fulfilling to see that transformation happen throughout the school year and accelerate once students are abroad. I’m grateful that I get to pay my experience forward, guiding students through their own journeys and helping them discover new things about themselves. As a participant, I was pushed outside of my comfort zone, and that helped me grow and challenge myself. Now, as a teacher, I get to pay that forward. It’s also been a powerful reminder that experience is the best teacher, and our learning shouldn’t be limited to the classroom. Since being a student with SMTW, SMTW has expanded programming, incorporated new pillars like entrepreneurship through the Show Me The World Coffee. It’s also increased its reach to impact more students and the focus on leadership development has become more integrated into everything students do. While the core mission remains the same, the program has evolved to provide even more tools and opportunities to prepare students for college or the workforce.” Sep’Tisha, Chapter 1 Alumni and SMTW Teacher
“Sep’Tisha’s position as an alum goes beyond just teaching—she is a powerful role model for her students. Her experience as a trip leader truly underscores the lasting impact she has. After returning from the last trip, Sep’Tisha participated in an alumni panel in front of her current students. One of her students, who had just traveled with her, was nervous and visibly shaking before speaking on the panel for the first time. She asked if she could sit next to Sep’Tisha because it would make her feel more comfortable. Sep’Tisha not only comforted her but coached her through the experience. After the panel, this student came up to me and said, “I want to become a Show Me The World leader like Sep’Tisha!” Her presence gives her students a tangible example of what’s possible and provides a sense of safety and aspiration. As an alum, Sep’Tisha knows the program inside and out, and her students can see themselves in her, knowing she once stood in their shoes. This connection, combined with her dedication, creates a powerful sense of continuity and a desire to pass the torch to the next generation. Sep’Tisha’s leadership is not just about teaching—it’s about inspiring students to follow in her footsteps and become leaders themselves.”
-Samantha Lurie, Executive Director
