In my freshman year, when my brother decided to take a gap year, I was quite unsure about the idea. Why would anyone decide to interrupt the normal flow of education to do something else for a year?
I suppose that’s probably why I’m writing this: to explain my reasoning in deciding to take a break from structured education. It’s a big task: A decision like this one usually isn’t a simple one to make.
When I asked my brother about his reasoning, he simply said, “If I’m going to have an experience that influences me so much that I want to change my life path, like a year of service, I want to do it before I’m already down a path.” An answer that made sense wasn’t something that I was prepared for. It made me realize that for some people (especially those who aren’t quite sure where they belong) a gap year could be a very positive experience.
I was still fairly convinced that I would go straight to college, however. I hadn’t given the issue that much thought, and even though I didn’t have a life plan, I was sure I would gain certainty of my path and calling as I grew older.
As I moved into junior and senior years of high school, I found myself in a state of indecision. Simply put, when people say, “You can be anything you want!”, I would’ve said, “What if I want to be everything?!” I couldn’t narrow down what I wanted to do. STEM, graphic design, English, history, farming, and social sciences were all options I had considered, and all seemed like fields I could see myself pursuing.
One day, as I was out driving the tractor for my father (one of the rare activities during which one can think in endless tangents and still get work done), a piece about gap years came up on NPR. It spoke very highly of the idea of a gap year, and said that students who take a gap year usually enter college more focused, more sure of themselves, more prepared, and more motivated than before. At the time, I was feeling motivated, but definitely not sure of myself or prepared, so the idea appealed to me.
As my junior year continued, I still found myself facing a swirling mass of indecision. I knew that many colleges allow for exploration of major programs, but I wanted to get to know myself better, as well as have some time to gain perspective on all of my interests, and perhaps have a chance to categorize and prioritize them.
Realizing that a gap year might be a good way to do this, I asked a few people how their experience with gap years had been. I knew my brother’s experience had been positive, but wanted more information. I only heard positive feedback. In fact, most of these people ended the conversation with, “If you’re even thinking about taking a gap year to do service, do it.”
Needless to say, I was convinced. Choosing a program was very easy. I wanted to serve. My family has a long tradition of service, and I believe thoroughly that world citizenship and cross-cultural learning are extremely important, so I chose Radical Journey. Our church offers monetary support to those who participate in Mennonite service programs.
Location was slightly more difficult, but I chose Southeast Asia because I wanted to learn a second language, as well as the fact that experiencing the world’s second highest biodiversity rate was impossible to resist.
I plan to touch more on what I’m actually gaining from this experience, but I feel that explaining my motivations would allow some insight into my thought processes, and through that, offer a window of understanding into who I am as a person.
