By THINK Global School Alum Lisa Grages
I remember the first day I arrived in Vancouver, an anxious bean full of mixed emotions. This was it. My last term as a senior at THINK Global School, the world’s first traveling high school.
I remember squealing with excitement as I hugged Lexi and got into the cab, thinking this would be the last time a staff member would be awaiting me in a foreign airport. As we headed to the student residence, I anticipated my arrival to a furnished apartment that was, once again, a reminder of how privileged and lucky I was to have this opportunity as part of my high school experience.
Taking in Machu Picchu during my senior year at THINK Global School
Our conversation turned to IB exams and university interests, and naturally, confidence in my decision solidified. For a while I had been playing around with the idea of taking a year off, but had never taken it seriously; I only considered a gap year as an alternative option-- a plan B. I was conflicted in what choice to make. Do I accept a conditional offer from Edinburgh or defer it? Do I accept an offer from an innovative degree program in the Netherlands or defer it? My ambivalence cycled for a couple of months, and this pattern did not settle before I consciously chose a path. It was after a phone call with my dad discussing the potential of how I could fill my time with meaningful work back in Laos, my native country, where I decided to take a leap and just go for it.
That is when my plan B, taking a gap year, became plan A.
After teary goodbyes at graduation and a summer filled with more travelling, it was time to start an internship at a German organization supporting the setup and development of cooperatives and farmer groups in Laos. For three months, my job would be to collect data and conduct interviews with local villagers and farmers, tracing their success and challenges in working as a group to achieve more economic prosperity. These would eventually culminate into different case studies that I am currently in the process of writing and editing.
It dawned on me the first month after the summer how real the situation was that I was not going back to TGS nor attending another academic institution. There were short episodes where I would feel at a loss of what I’m doing, where I felt unqualified and overwhelmed. But I quickly swerved back after consistent reminders of how what I’m doing is beneficial for my self-development, future career goals and, most importantly, has actual value for others. It has always been a dream of mine to actively engage in development work on the grassroots level, to contribute to the pursuit of achieving sustainability. Witnessing the success and the strength of a community working towards a common goal during my internship has filled me with a new kind of motivation already, and a better understanding of the struggles and shortcomings involved.
Taking a gap year has allowed me to pursue my passion for flying as well, something I would not have the time or energy to do had I jumped straight into university environment. Now I can dedicate more of my time towards pursuing an ultralight pilot license (despite having to hit the books again so soon). I also have another internship coming up with the Institute for International Cooperation of the Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband e.V. (DVV), in the non-formal education development sector. I will have the opportunity to take part in conducting and analyzing a large scale research survey assessing the capacity needs of managers from adult community learning centers in central provinces of Laos. This collaborative work is in a different field from the agricultural sector where I am currently in, and I am pumped for it.
Attending a workshop for my next internship
It seems like I will be staying in Laos longer than anticipated, but that’s the beauty of designing your own gap year! While many plans will always turn out differently than expected, it’s important to embrace the present moment and take time for personal development. So get a little comfortable with the idea of uncertainty. It sounds daunting, but it will definitely open your mind to unforeseen opportunities.
Why a gap year?
Arriving at the decision to take a gap year took a long time, but once it was made, everything became easier. This decision put things back into perspective for me, and helped me prioritize my time and invest in what I truly cared about, such as the relationships with like-minded people I came to cherish at TGS, the plethora of cultural, social and sensory experiences I came across during travels and, yes, even the enervating amount of essay writing once I actually applied it in real life practice while writing up case study reports for my internship.
Another decision following my gap year was my university choice. I wanted to continue this non-traditional streak at university, and a bachelor program I found in the Netherlands gave me exactly what I was looking for. With a focus on discussion-based classes instead of routine lectures, Windesheim Honours College values practical experience and provides multiple internship opportunities. In starting my gap year with an internship and another approaching, this program could launch me into relevant, real world work while simultaneously investing in my firsthand understanding of what it is like to work in the development sector.
A lot of uncertainty is attached to taking a gap year. There is an abundance of options to choose from if you are willing to seek them out. Will you find opportunities worth investing your time in, or will you end up chilling out for an entire year, perhaps backpacking for a bit? Or a combination of both? Whatever choice you make, the decision is ultimately up to you. You decide how far you want to go with your time.
Halfway through, yet so much left to do
Initially, I was afraid that I wouldn’t find enough meaningful projects to fill a whole year with. Now halfway through my gap year, I still feel like I have so much left that I want to do. I feel inspired by new opportunities weekly. The hard decision is not how to find opportunities, but instead where to best invest my time as opportunities worth pursuing are everywhere.
The most critical lesson I’ve learnt, undoubtedly, is to find comfort within the feeling of uncertainty. While insecurities still linger from time to time based on the judgement faced from having chosen a gap year, I know I would be experiencing the same kind of internal insecurity had I chosen to jump straight into university. So far, choosing a gap year was my personal best bet. It gave me a sense of clarity of what I want to do next, while providing the motivation and hands-on experience needed to understand why pursuing an alternative business degree in global change and project management is right for my future.
My plans changed and I’m better for it. The future will always be filled with uncertainty-- don’t be afraid to face it.