“You have to stay away from unknown people, boys, unknown substances, foreign objects and did I mention boys?” That was what my dad said as he halfheartedly approved of me to go on my first school trip. This excursion was unlike any other. This trip involved driving to France with just a group of teachers and several of my friends for three weeks. That is hardly what one would consider an experience that a fifth grader should have. That’s...

No, I only used the counselor at...