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A summary of the time spent working on my Gap Year
A summary of the time spent working on my Gap Year
As previously stated the primary reason I would like to graduate early is to take a gap year. As part of a Flexible Pathways credit elective with Miss Thielen as my advisor, I researched universities/colleges, career paths, and gap year study abroad programs. We met an average of 2 to 3 times per week. To discuss, decide and strategize how to make this happen.
Here is a quick summary of my plan:
At the beginning of the year, I will apply for colleges. During this year I will travel Europe while attending a language program and participating in Art History Courses. Since I have finished acquiring my due credits I want to take advantage of this opportunity to see some of the world. While traveling I will hopefully be able to visit my family and friends in Germany, Greece, Portugal, France, and Switzerland.
Here is the chronological process of the Google Sheets document I worked on from October - February:
The first draft (November 1st)
At this point, we spent a lot of time determining what type of program I was interested in and more importantly which country I wanted to go to. As seen to the left the programs were based on the arts, language, service learning, or early college. One established goal was to attend the same language program in the summer in Germany.
As the year continued another goal was established, cultural Immersion. Whether in the form of volunteer work or art classes at a university in Florence, I was certain this was a non-negotiable.
Another goal determined by this time was attending a program that was not based out of the United States for two reasons:
I wanted to have diversity in whatever program I attended, both racial and cultural.
I didn't want to be part of a program made to view the country through an "American lens"
halfway mark (January 30th)
Short term- programs (March 3rd)
Going from shortest to longest type programs these three separate pages were made to differentiate between the different lengths of each program. This helped find a way to fit them together like puzzle pieces.
Along with the main page now it was a matter of determining which programs fit together and worked for my timeline.
Added goal:
To go somewhere I have never been
Semester-long programs (March 3rd)
Splitting them up gave the decision more clarity. I then realized I wanted a Longer term program that was more structured.
Added goals:
Structured Program
Longer program to better get to learn the culture/ language/ People
For a short time, I considered Full year-long programs at either a school or a combination of two-semester programs. This is what I learned from that time:
Private boarding schools in Switzerland are overpriced!!!
No matter how nice something sounds there will always be a catch and don't settle because it seems nice
As much as I would have liked to be in a school type of environment it didn't mean it had to be an actual high school
Added Goal:
A structured learning program
A bilingual program
Full-year programs
(March 9th)
The final list of all the programs considered both short-term and long term (May 17th)
The list of goals and how they were met:
Language program
The EF Program is a German Language program
Cultural immersion/ Bilingual:
Art History Abroad program is all in Italy
EF if fully taught in German
Structured program
AHA is fully planned with a itinerary
EF has a full curriculum and is a Language School
Learning aspect:
Though I will be learning no matter what I do, AHA is fully about learning about art history.
And EF is a full language program
Not based in the United States
Both are based out of the UK
Diversity
AHA is 90%, international students
EF is 85% internal students
Below is the final version of the document with my final choices of the programs I will be attending this fall highlighted in bright blue (May 19)
Pictures from the cities I will/have visited in Germany, Greece, Italy, and Switzerland:
Over this past summer, I took a language course in Köln, Germany, and met people from all over the world. I never realized how I immensely enjoyed learning about other cultures and traditions. It was amazing to hear how differently they viewed the same topics while noticing the fundamental similarities we all shared. This experience inspired me to continue traveling, just like both my parents. They have been to over 30 countries together meeting at the slopes of Mount Everest. I hope to gain some insights and knowledge from other cultures before I begin college.I know that after having this gap year I will have a better understanding of the world, but more importantly myself.
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