Our
counselors at the Center for Interim Programs have been keynote speakers at
the USA Gap Year Fairs since their inception in 2007. These fairs have done an
extraordinary job of bringing together our gap year community of program
providers, high schools, college counselors, and gap year experts so that we can
help further educate families about this exciting path of life learning.
In
addition to their role in promoting the gap year on a national level,
the USA Gap Year Fairs have also sought to support more students
in taking gap years, and as one part of that mission, the "Student
Ambassador Scholarship was established to recognize students who have
demonstrated outstanding motivation and determination to pursue gap year
experiences."
We
at the Center for Interim Programs are proud supporters of one of the $2,000 scholarships,
and pleased to extend our congratulations to this year's two recipients,
Marcos and Rosalie, as well as excerpts from their inspiring
application essays:
Rosalie: Although at first the idea of a gap year was just something I
joked about during the stress of college applications, the idea never really
went away. On January 23, 2019, I attended a USA Gap Year Fair at Southwest
High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This fair assured me that if a gap year
was something that I really wanted, then it could really happen. I am drawn to
the opportunity of learning outside the classroom, seeing new places and new
cultures, and exploring myself to find new passions and life direction.
Throughout my four years of high school, I was fully committed to my classroom
learning. I am proud of my academic accomplishments and wouldn’t be surprised
if one of the subjects I have studied in high school becomes a guiding
discipline in my career. However, I understand that classroom learning cannot
teach me everything. I am driven and excited to learn and gain life experience
outside of a traditional academic setting. A gap year will be an opportunity
for experiential learning that I have never had before. It will push me beyond
my comfort zone, inspire from me self reflection, and, when the time comes,
empower me to return to classroom learning with a refined perspective.
The college process brought periods of celebration and struggle. However, the times of struggle forced me to admit uncertainty. I got caught up in the idea of who I should be, the colleges I should go, the things I should do. A gap year will be a great time for me to reset myself. I want to use the year to dig deeper into my passions, to find intersections between them, and to explore new ones. I hope to find personal clarity before jumping into the college experience.
The college process brought periods of celebration and struggle. However, the times of struggle forced me to admit uncertainty. I got caught up in the idea of who I should be, the colleges I should go, the things I should do. A gap year will be a great time for me to reset myself. I want to use the year to dig deeper into my passions, to find intersections between them, and to explore new ones. I hope to find personal clarity before jumping into the college experience.
Like
Marcos and Rosalie, you can also pause the academic treadmill to
evaluate your goals, gain skills, make new friends, build your confidence and
independence, and have an unforgettable year of new and exciting experiences!
Be sure to visit the USA
Gap Year Fairs website to see if there will be a gap year fair near you
this winter 2020, and/or to apply to The USA Gap
Year Fairs Student Ambassador Scholarship.
Our
team is committed to continuing to support the USA Gap Year Fairs as both
speakers and contributors to the scholarship fund. We are also ready to answer
your questions at any time. We hope to see you at the fairs, and encourage you
to sign-up for our Free 90-Minute Consultation with one of our expert
counselors today!