An Explaination

Photo by Regina Brecha 

While I shan't go into the particulars that make up the complications of my college going/application process I shall suffice to say, its complicated. But long story short, I am reapplying to some schools and going through the whole app processes again. Once again I had to face the question "please provide an explanation for you expulsion from school, convicted felony, or gap year" yes. This is the category into which gap years are placed for the common application. While last round of apps I wrote a brief few sentences on what I had done, and what I was planning on doing this year I decided to use the opportunity to gets some thoughts out, decided to share the "explanation" I gave. I have a couple more essays I would love to share as well if the interest is there, so tell me what you think!

In my opinion the majority of “education” is not what goes on inside of a classroom, but rather all the little (or big!) things that go on outside of it. I love to learn, I love to read and write, and appreciate school and teachers more then most people, my father happens to be one, but I was also raised to grab an opportunity when I can, to make the most out of every situation, and to trust my instincts. 

Because of this, in my sophomore year of high school when I was informed I would be able to graduate in three years, I explored all my options. I looked at International Baccalaureate schools, dual enrollment, going straight for college, and finally settled on that which is closest to my heart: travel. My mother being the wonderful research fiend that she is, helped me find an international organization called WWOOF (the worldwide organic opportunities for farming), and specifically the Ireland branch. I would work on a horse farm, and finish up the trip with some solo travel around Europe. 

The experience had its ups and downs, things didn’t work out as planned, and certain things fell into place like clock work. All in and all it was more valuable a life lesson than I could have imagined. Coming home for the final six months I fell into a fairly “domestic” life. I got a job, lived at home with my parents, and then went on to start completing a wish list. I wanted to do all those things I had deemed as impossible, scary, or too difficult. 

So it began: I took dance lessons, I drove solo across country, I bought and learned to play a mandolin, I taught a summer camp at the place my parents had met, I began working with horses for the first time after a serious accident two years earlier. I learned to jump and competed in it, bought a horse of my own, and finished out the year by managing an entire horse barn. In the blink of a year I had completed every single dream, or wish. I had completed my bucket list, and that is no small task. I am setting out to begin life with a clean slate, no expectations, no regrets, and in my opinion a perfectly completed and well rounded eduction. In other words, the perfect gap year.