While most people see a map as merely a tool for navigation, for ninth grader De-An Chen, it’s a gateway to adventure. From researching the reasons behind Minnesota’s flat terrain to exploring remote corners of the globe, geography is more than just an academic subject for him. What started as Chen receiving an atlas for his 10th birthday has expanded into a fascination with the world’s landscapes, cultures and the stories they hold.

“I thought the atlas was really interesting because it featured every country and their maps. I would spend hours looking at the atlas with my dad and learning [about] the different countries,” Chen said.

The topic of geography itself is expansive; even in physical geography, the most commonly recognized field that refers to the study of landforms and landscapes, the subject contains many branches, including climatology, biogeography and hydrology. To Chen, however, human geography, the study of cultural products, norms and spatial distribution, has always mapped the course of his curiosity.

“My favorite branch of geography is human geography because you get to learn about different cultures around the world,” he said. “I remember when I was in kindergarten, I had these books featuring different countries’ cuisines. My family would then bring me to restaurants around the Twin Cities that had these cuisines and we would try them out.”

Chen’s passion for geography has allowed him to discover the beauty of the world as he explores far beyond Minnesota’s borders. On a family trip to Hong Kong last year, Chen’s geography knowledge helped him unearth the brilliance of how the rugged, mountainous terrains of the region can coexist with one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

Along with appreciating how cities developed based on geographic features, Chen also scans a map before traveling to a new location. Although a brief glance at a map doesn’t always lead to in-depth pre-trip research, basic geography knowledge has saved his family from getting lost on multiple occasions.

While human geography may be at the pinnacle of Chen’s geographical interests, he also finds value in branching out to other sectors, such as environmental geography. The topic focuses on the relationship between humans and the environment and often emphasizes sustainable practices.

“Learning about environmental geography can help us understand weather phenomena better. For example, environmental geography can help us understand how hurricanes form and when they form,” Chen said. “[It] can [also] help us understand climate change and its impacts.”

Although opportunities to study geography at SPA can be limited, with the school lacking geography courses, Chen finds ways to share his unique interests. He and fellow freshman Pete Hovan plan to host this year’s middle school geography bee: “Last year, there wasn’t a middle school geography bee. So, we hope to [restart] this tradition,” Chen said.

Chen’s passion for geography transcends the boundaries of the classroom. For him, every map is more than a mere guide to avoid getting lost– it’s an invitation for exploration.