Gap Year Alumni:
Share your story with us and help inspire others to #explorethegapyear
Gap Year STORIES
Photo: Dynamy Internship Year
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A Year Around the World
…I learned that I can do anything on my own. What I mean is that I can adapt, learn quickly, and make important decisions. For example, being stuck in a rental car on a rural road in Bosnia: I had no cell phone service and was lost. I had to use my decision-making skills and my own confidence to make sure I could get to safety. I did it which makes me feel like I can do anything I set my mind to!
To those considering a gap year, I say: take the gap year! Your memories will be unforgettable and the time will be in a special place in your heart forever. It is something I recommend to everyone and anyone. You learn so much about yourself, it is almost indescribable.”
ANNA WILLIFORD
Now: Director of Enrollment for AdventureEXP
A Year of Service
…I lived in community with 17 other young adults from all over the country. I spent my days volunteering at the Dorothy Day Homeless Shelter. It was some of the most meaningful and most challenging work of my life. And it was that year that made me realize that I would dedicate my career to the nonprofit sector.
A gap year isn’t a “year off,” it’s actually a “year on.” It may involve travel, volunteer service, career exploration, language immersion or any other experience that fuels your passion and allows you to truly discover who you are, who you want to become, what you value, and how you want to contribute to society in a meaningful way. Give yourself the best gift you can and go out and experience the world with eyes, heart, and mind wide open—you won’t be disappointed!”
EMBRACING UNCERTAINTY
…A large portion of the HMI curriculum are lessons based on communication, interpersonal relations, and conflict-resolution. When you spend 80 days with a small group of people, it is vital to learn how to solve conflicts that may arise. All of these skills are extremely important to have in life. Everything I have learned I have implemented into my life currently. For example, I utilize the feedback skills I learned to communicate with my roommate. Most people go on in life without mastering these skills and face consequences from the lack of them.
The biggest challenge for me was the amount of uncertainty I faced during some moments of my gap year. In general people become accustomed to a certain order and schedule of their lives, finding comfort within it. However, for a large part of my gap year I was ‘in between’ doing things. These moments of figuring things out were stressful, but they were equally as important to my growth as my time of travel and fun. During these moments of uncertainty, I learned how to plan ahead, be self-sufficient, and truly be an independent adult.
I know from personal experience how stressful it is to veer away from the path most people follow in life. However, a gap year prepares you for whatever comes next in life. If you are considering taking a gap year and are unsure about your choice, I urge you to talk to someone that has taken one!”
NOAH ROBISON
Now: Undergraduate Student at University of Rochester
Volunteering Abroad
…Taking a gap year has fueled my desire to travel internationally and influenced what I do during my travels. I learned that I really enjoy participating in volunteer work, feeling like I am contributing to the community. It’s helped me discover that maybe I don’t want to go into a STEM field or do research, but maybe head in the direction of humanitarian work, or something in the liberal arts.
In a traditional classroom setting, I wouldn’t have had the practical experience of putting myself out there, doing things on my own, and getting used to talking to strangers. If you’re considering a gap year, I would say, “do it!” Especially if you feel confused after graduating high school and don’t yet know what you want out of career or college.”
GILLIAN MULLER
Now: Restaurant Busser
Service & Education
…One of the very first students I enrolled in our program was a bright, joyful, kind, and intelligent 3rd grader. At the beginning of the year, they tested in at a 2nd grade reading level. After a year of intentional work, they showed 2 years worth of literacy gains and were on track to enter the 4th grader with a proficient reading level!
My gap year(s) contributed to all aspects of my life. I doubt I would have pursued my Master’s in Social Justice and Human Rights had Reading Partners not instilled in my the value of reading, and the idea that education is a form of social justice. I never thought I would enter the field of education, but here I am and I will forever be grateful to Reading Partners for opening up these opportunities for me.”
SERVICE & CAREER
…During my service terms, I was presented with ample opportunities to practice my public speaking skills, writing skills, and collaboration skills. In a typical classroom setting, I may have only gotten the chance to give a presentation or work with a group a couple of times a semester. But now, it’s every day. I believe that I felt much more confident after my service terms than I may have in a classroom. Additionally, my service led me to a completely new state. I took a huge leap moving from South Carolina to California on my own; I didn’t know a single other person west of Arizona when I moved here! By now, I’ve built a fantastic community of friends and colleagues all over the Bay Area.
I believe that everyone should do a year of service. If every American committed to a year of serving their community, putting others first, and seeing the humanity of those different than them, I think the world would be a much better place.”
Gapping in Progress!
…Before my gap year, I was incredibly academically oriented, and was extremely stressed and burnt out during and after my final exams. I was convinced that my grades would define who I was as a person, so I decided to take a gap year to show myself that I am so much more than my academics. Now, being just over halfway through my gap year, I can already feel I am a much more well-rounded person, having visited three new continents and participated in so many amazing projects that I’m genuinely interested in!
Taking a gap year has by far been the best decision I’ve ever made, especially in terms of improving my mental health. After thirteen years of being in school, I 100% needed this one out of the classroom before going back to my studies. I’ve learnt so many things that school can never teach you, I’ve met so many people from all over the world, I’ve been able to get practical experience in the things I’m interested in. I really can’t recommend a gap year enough!”
ABBIE SMITH
Now: On a Gap Year!
Intentional Community-Building
…Because each of the programs I attended were so focused on community, my gap year generously granted me the ability to contribute to any community I join. In college, I found that the sheer number of people around me could create a feeling of repetition without connection. Being able to find the kind of people I was lucky enough to know on my gap year in that wider school group allowed me to create some of the closest friends within college. I’m enormously grateful to the intentional communities of each of the programs for helping me improve in my own intentionality beyond the time I had with them.
A gap year didn’t directly change my career or academic path; I had declared my major before the gap year and still love the subject. What it did do was help me understand what aspects of learning are truly important to prioritize. On my gap year, I had found true belonging in a set of people whose priorities in life mirrored what I thought my own should be – they found joy in existence, happiness in difficulty, and possessed a high level of human kindness. I haven’t changed the details of my academic interests, but I have developed a desire to find a career where I have the luxury of working with similar people, with people who care.
A gap year is something that takes a leap of faith. Being willing to push yourself to not follow the norm in the name of realizing something more meaningful is difficult. But if you choose to make that leap, to push yourself in that way, the rewards respond to your input. The more you care, the more you will be cared for. The more you exist past your comfort zone, the more that zone will expand. The more you live with intention, the more the community you’re a part of will develop. I also think that college has become more enjoyable and in some ways easier because of my gap year. I’m now more able to build community in a space I enter because of the groups I was a part of during my gap year. Being able to be around people who care and who exist with intention has made finding similar people both more important to me and easier.”
SPENCER WOLF
Now: Student
Becoming an Outdoor Leader
…I had never spent more than 2 nights backpacking before participating in my NOLS semester so I went into the program as a total newbie. The semester taught me that I have a deep love of spending time outdoors and traveling in challenging environments. I also learned more about my leadership style, how to give and receive feedback, and what it means to live in community.
My gap time significantly impacted by career path! I learned that it is possible to combine personal interests and my career and that I didn’t have to take the traditional path of getting a corporate job after graduation. If you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to take a semester or year away from the classroom, do it! The personal growth I experienced on my gap semester was monumental and has positively impacted every aspect of my life!”
SELF-DISCOVERY OVERSEAS
…The woman I am today would not exist without my gap year. By seeing more of the world and separating myself from what I have always known, I found who I truly am. There’s a saying, “life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it.” By getting myself out of my comfort zone, I was able to really see my true colors through how I react to unfamiliar scenarios and challenges that inevitably come along with exploring. There is only growth from there. I learned how independent I can be, how capable I am, how to be patient and kind to everyone, and most importantly, that I can trust myself.
Because of this growth, I have gone on to do loads of solo travel and form lasting relationships with people around the world. My gap year opened doors for me, and, more importantly, taught me how to open doors for myself. Partnering with a program like Irish Gap Year for my gap year experience was a perfect way to make mistakes and grow in a controlled environment, where there is someone to turn to for help and guidance.”
MAKENNA ELGES
Now: Food service worker
Wildlife Conservation & Expanding Comfort Zones
…This time away allowed me to gain self trust in my ability to navigate the world, find my way, connect with others from diverse backgrounds, and expose myself to another way of life. I was inspired by the selflessness of my peers and the staff at the sanctuary and I will always keep that with me.
The experience enhanced my existing interest in wildlife conservation and allowed me to continue conservation work in subtle ways, though maybe not directly related to my career. I later spent four months working with the Fish & Wildlife Service doing records management in Honolulu and my time in Belize first exposed me to the world of conservation and rehabilitation. It was a joy to assist FWS with conservation projects when I could.
Being out of your comfort zone forces you to communicate with all types of people. This experience helped me do just that. It built my confidence while also humbling me in many ways – learning that I am here to do a job, but in the end it is up to me to put in the work.”
LOUISE
Now: Librarian
Personal Growth & Setting Up for College Success
…At first I found it difficult to be alone when solo traveling. I felt like I needed to have someone I knew around, or else I would find myself doing nothing all day and would entirely waste the opportunity in front of me. I had to teach myself how to operate without people around me at all times, which is a skill that has come in handy now that I’m in college.
I learned so much about how to navigate people during my gap year. Not every program or friendship was entirely lighthearted, some required special attention. I needed to be able to carry myself well and figure out situations as they arose, and now I couldn’t be more grateful for that skill.
Having time out of the academic system gave me a chance to figure out what I like to do when I don’t have a bunch of assignments due every week. I worked very hard in high school, and didn’t leave much time for hobbies or other interests. My gap year gave me the opportunity to be on my own, in a new environment, working backwards to figure out what I really enjoy.”
INNOGEN NAYLOR
Now: Undergrad student at the University of Washington
Climbing out of the Comfort Zone
…During our first backpacking expedition in Colorado, a storm blew through our camp. It was late September, it started snowing, and there was a lot of lighting quite close by. In the middle of cooking dinner the group scattered and went into lightning position. We were squatted in this incredibly tiring position for almost an hour before the lightning moved away, and even though we were all so cold and hungry, I just remember feeling so much joy to be truly ‘out there’ in adverse conditions. I was so excited because I knew that I was going to become such great friends with all the people that were there with me.
HMI Fall Rock provided me with the technical knowledge and skills to go out into the world and be a rock climber. I think these skills can be harder to find as a woman because climbing is a male dominated sport. HMI was the perfect place to push myself and climb so high! My gap year helped me find self worth in areas beyond my academic performance. Simply put, taking a gap year is the best thing I’ve ever done.”
NICHOLA MONROE
Now: Student
Training a Trainer
…I received two years of training and real life work experience in the nonprofit sector during my years serving with AmeriCorps. I learned how to train individuals effectively, I learned more about email etiquette and customer service best practices, I learned about how to share my pitch about Reading Partners at events, I learned about community organizing. These two years of my life really took me out of my comfort zone and helped me gain more confidence in myself and my skills and abilities. I was hired on at Reading Partners after my two years with them, and I couldn’t be more happier to have stayed on with this wonderful organization!”
Outdoor GROWTH & Learning
…My gap year helped me learn how to follow my heart. I became more confident in myself and learned so much about what brings me joy. It encouraged me to spend even more time outside, and seek out people and experiences that challenge me and help me grow while being goofy. The experience also helped me to love learning again. It got me excited to go to college, and live in a new place with great outdoor opportunities. I’m still interested in the studying some of the same things as before, but am more curious and inspired to learn about them.
I’ll admit, at times I definitely felt lonely. All of my friends from home chose to go directly to college after high school, and sometimes it felt hard to be doing something so different. However, this pushed me to seek out new experiences and people, which I am so grateful for. I made new lifelong friendships and always ended up having a blast!
To those considering a gap year, I say: Do it!! Absolutely go for it. It’s the best decision I ever made. If you go into it with an open mind you’ll have a blast and meet the most incredible people.”
PIPER ENDERLEIN
Now: Student
CONNECTING TO FAMILY ROOTS
…I will never forget my time living in Rome. It was like living in a museum – there is so much history that surrounds you! My “commute” each morning to my EF Language School consisted of 1) getting off the metro right in front of the Colosseum, 2) walking past the Pantheon, and then 3) hanging a right until I approached the Trevi Fountain. This was definitely a memorable way to start my morning!
I had traveled internationally with my family in the past, but traveling abroad on a gap year with people I hadn’t met before was definitely a first. When participating on such a dynamic and immersive program like EF Gap Year, homesickness and normal anxieties took a while to set in, but inevitably arrived. I am thankful that EF had prepared me with the resources and support in order to proactively manage these feelings. The most influential advice they offered me was to understand how to utilize my support network. For some people, that may mean journaling, meditation, or exercise. For me, it meant keeping in contact with my friends and family via frequent texting/calling/sharing photos. Had I not come to discover this, my gap year experience (and frankly, most post-gap experiences) would be a lot different!
My gap year allowed me to connect with my Italian family in a way that I hadn’t been able to before. I can now communicate with my grandparents and understand their incredible life stories. On top of that, I came out of my gap year with more confidence and curiosity to take on my college experience.”
JOHN FRAGALE
Now: Business Development Representative
Learning to be a Teacher
…It took me eight months to master my “teacher voice”—but I’ll never forget when all I had to do was say a student’s name and make eye contact with him to have him freeze in the middle of etching something into a wooden desk and drop his pencil sheepishly.
I have now spent the last decade working in education with young people of all ages, and I’m regularly reminded of my gratitude for my time teaching in Guatemala and all that I learned. Many of my peers graduated college with teaching and education degrees, only to enter the classroom for the first time after graduating to learn working with young people was not for them. I was able to experiment before deciding what I wanted to study, and that was the pivotal, truly life-changing experience that helped me decide what I wanted to do with my life. Were it not for my gap year, I would not have gone to the college I went to, studied what I studied, or chosen the career path I chose as a middle school teacher.
I could not recommend a gap year more! There are many amazing gap year programs out there that will hold your hand, but I would also encourage finding work or volunteer work that allows you to navigate your year more independently. I also think if you choose to volunteer, the best gift you can give is your time so consider giving your whole year (or more!) to one community to maximize the ratio of the time they invest to train you up to the time you are actually able to give back.”
LEAH SHORB
Now: Middle School History Teacher
Gaining Independence & Refocusing Before College
…My gap year made a huge contribution to my personal growth and self-discovery. During my year, I met some lifelong friends and had some incredible experiences that I will never forget. Occasionally, as I am writing an essay or studying for a test in college, my mind drifts to incredible moments in my gap year, like hiking mountains in Peru that make me glad I took a gap year. I also feel I grew as a person during my year. I feel I improved my interpersonal skills during my gap time through experiences like working a customer service job in the winter as a ski instructor and by going on 70 to 80 day trips with people I had never met before. I also think I gained independence during my gap year. As a ski instructor, I was living in Colorado almost 2,000 miles away from home and during my trip to South America, I had very little contact with my family for the first month. My experience living away from home and my improved interpersonal skills were both extremely helpful to me as a freshman in college. Lastly, I think my gap time has helped me refocus for college. After taking a year off from school I felt like I returned to classwork genuinely excited to complete many of my assignments.”
LUKE RESETARITS
Now: Student
Finding the Right Training & Exploring Group Travel
…Thanks in part to the travel experiences I had during my post-university gap year, I became a passionate advocate for outdoor adventures and the joys of exploring remote places with friends and new people. Because of this, I came across the Expedition Leader Training program run by Gapforce. Run over 12 weeks in the jungles of Costa Rica, the program is an intensive training course that provides a platform into the outdoor and expedition industry and even offers work for some graduates to run and lead group trips around the world. Ultimately, I joined the course in 2019 and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! I’m still friends with my course mates to this day.
I have developed a growing respect and appreciation for the benefits of group travel experiences. For those who are dying to travel and see the world, but have not been away from home before, travelling alone can be daunting. Planning the itinerary of a trip can at times be brilliant, as you look forward to your adventures, but can also be quite tricky with all of the logisitics you need to sort through. If you have any doubts about solo travel, I cannot recommend group travel experiences highly enough. Group adventure trips are often led by experienced and qualified Expedition Leaders who have worked in all four corners of the globe. The itineraries are planned and the accommodation is booked – all you need to do is get on the plane and let the adventure begin!”
Gaining Confidence & Clarity
…Throughout my gap year I learned so much more about myself and the world around me. I became more outspoken, my general communication style improved, and I became more confident in myself as an individual. I also figured out what I wanted to major in during college, which I was quite unsure about before my gap year. To anyone considering a gap year: do it 🙂 It’s so rewarding and such an incredible experience, no matter where you are in life. Whether it’s to branch out, explore the world, or just to make some new memories, taking a gap year is such a good source of inspiration and enjoyable moments.”
YELENA DWORTZAN
Now: Undergraduate Student at the University of Vermont
Language Immersion & LIFE LESSONS
…Through my gap year experience, I actually learned a lot about what I didn’t want to do. In high school, I thought I wanted to live internationally and have a career as a journalist or a foreign service officer. I wouldn’t trade my gap year opportunity for anything else, but it made me realize I want to be more grounded in one place for the rest of my life. I now work in local government and think my year away was really crucial to helping figure out what I wanted to do, and how I could be most fulfilled in life!”
BRYN MILLER
Now: Legislative Analyst for the City of San Francisco
FINDING HOME ABROAD
…At first I thought that going back to school would be my best bet, so I applied for a program, got accepted, and got ready to move. The thing was: I really didn’t care all that much about my degree. Fortunately, one of my professors mentioned the InterExchange program to me. I immediately applied, and got to spend the next year of my life living and playing in the Canadian Rockies.
During my time there, I helped start a non-profit that focused on the well-being of young adults like me who were living in the Bow Valley. We connected young adults to each other, to local resources, and empowered their voices in the community. When my working holiday expired, I applied for a Young Professionals visa and stayed in Canada for another year working for the nonprofit.
During my two years with the program, I was able to get some Canadian work experience that helped build my up CRS score. I was eventually able to apply for permanent resident status in Canada, where I now live in B.C. and have started my own company. Needless to say, my gap experience with InterExchange drastically shaped my life, helped me reach the place I now call home, and I am so thankful for the opportunities it presented to me.”
ZACH BAXTER
Now: Business Owner
WORK/TRAVEL BALANCE
…The biggest thing a year of travel provided me was the confidence to take charge, take risks, and make mistakes. I needed to lose the security net, and figure things out for myself. Whether this meant going somewhere I did not know the language, struggling with currency, or the risk to spend another hour resting before going to the airport. These were all life skills that had to be experienced alone and with consequence.
Considering a gap year? Absolutely do it! Find a way to save up some money, and make a financial plan (especially before you tell your parents) to see how long you can go, what you can do to make money as needed, and manage expenses along the way. I am a big fan of planning, and I believe the harder you work to budget, plan, and save, the easier it will be when you are actually there.”
Title
…It took me eight months to master my “teacher voice”—but I’ll never forget when all I had to do was say a student’s name and make eye contact with him to have him freeze in the middle of etching something into a wooden desk and drop his pencil sheepishly.
I have now spent the last decade working in education with young people of all ages, and I’m regularly reminded of my gratitude for my time teaching in Guatemala and all that I learned. Many of my peers graduated college with teaching and education degrees, only to enter the classroom for the first time after graduating to learn working with young people was not for them. I was able to experiment before deciding what I wanted to study, and that was the pivotal, truly life-changing experience that helped me decide what I wanted to do with my life. Were it not for my gap year, I would not have gone to the college I went to, studied what I studied, or chosen the career path I chose as a middle school teacher.
I could not recommend a gap year more! There are many amazing gap year programs out there that will hold your hand, but I would also encourage finding work or volunteer work that allows you to navigate your year more independently. I also think if you choose to volunteer, the best gift you can give is your time so consider giving your whole year (or more!) to one community to maximize the ratio of the time they invest to train you up to the time you are actually able to give back.”
LEAH SHORB
Now: Middle School History Teacher