As we enter 2026, I am reflecting upon how we closed out 2025.
“Not one single person was on their own in a business, it was always a partner connecting with another,” said Jose De Los Reyes Jr., a senior at CAST Lead High School.
He shared that insight as we gathered for a final meal at Romelia in Mexico City, the culmination of a December global leadership trip with 12 students from our CAST Schools student advisory, representing schools across our school network.
At the close of our time in this breathtaking global capital, each of our students shared a takeaway from three full days of meetings with political and industry leaders, as well as visits to cultural sites and a memorable trip to an elementary school.
“Even though some countries are so similar – I see a lot of similarities between San Antonio and here, there are also minor differences. It’s really exciting to know that things can be different and they’re not necessarily better (or worse),” said Diego Carrasco, a junior at CAST STEM High School.
I was struck by the patterns in the takeaways. Faith Roye echoed Jose’s point that “teamwork is the core of everything.” In the patterns, I see signs of what we need to focus on in education – the experiences we create for students, the opportunity to engage in human connection and push each other’s thinking, and time for reflection.
At more than 20 million people, Mexico City is one of the largest and most dynamic cities in the Americas. Students and met with leaders from sectors including government, manufacturing, bitcoin, IT policy, education and entertainment, took in Lucha Libre and a performance of folclorico and mariachi at the magnificent Palacio de Bellas Artes. The program was organized by the U.S.-Mexico Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting binational understanding and collaboration between the United States and Mexico.
At a time of rapid technological change, travel may be one of the most powerful ways to gain a new perspective and challenge our default settings. CAST Med sophomore Stant Marcelo Gordon told the group: “ Let us take these opportunities and apply them to our real life, so the skills we learn, way of life, manners, new connections…will expand our way of living.”
To be a global leader, especially from San Antonio, TX, it requires an understanding of our closest neighbor. Not only is Mexico the largest trading partner for the U.S., but Texas and San Antonio have key geographic advantages in this global partnership. So it was gratifying to hear CAST Med Senior Ellie Garcia note: “how much I love the history of this city – and how they show it in every way.”
As adults, there is nothing quite like witnessing awe, joy and wonder through the eyes of young people experiencing something for the first time. The CAST team was struck by the thoughtful questions our students prepared and asked, and how their understanding of this fascinating city evolved over the course of three jam-packed days.
Regardless of the country, the leader, or the industry: “asking questions really helps,” said Advanced Learning Academy junior Davian Flores.
ALA Sophomore Malcolm Martin elaborated on that point, saying: “You ask a question and maybe you stand out. Maybe 10 years from now, I’ll see one of the speakers and he’ll remember I asked a question that sparked an idea.”
What it all boiled down to, he concluded was, “curiosity and being ready to learn.”
It isn’t clear yet what types of opportunities and challenges will face our young people and adults as humans push the boundaries of machine learning, but I do believe that in 2026 we will put a premium on original thinking, asking good questions, and differentiating the intellectual and emotional qualities that only humans are capable of. Put simply, what we will all need is “curiosity and being ready to learn.”
One of the most powerful words of advice came from Manola Zabalza, Mexico City’s Secretary of Economic Development, the youngest minister in city government, who walked us through her favorite spots in Chapultepec Park our first day.
“Curiosity is an ingredient that makes everything fun,” she said. “The most valuable item is your time and your attention. That is the resource they are fighting for. Make sure you use it wisely or it can be drained.”
“I don’t think the easy way is the fun way,” she said, “I think the hard way is the fun way.”
When we started the CAST Schools network, we dreamed that each of our students would graduate with a passport and their first stamp on it. We believed that travel to Mexico would not only give them a competitive edge, but also draw on many of their cultural strengths and understanding. We are a long way from achieving this dream, but as we head into a new year, I am reminded of just how transformational this experience is for young leaders, and how rich learning can be when we push ourselves beyond the boundaries of traditional classrooms and learning.
Jeanne Russell
Executive Director, CAST Schools