Why gap year?

My decision to take a gap year was executed in three parts. The first was the realization of my somewhat logistically irksome younger age, due to my skipped seventh grade year. The footsteps of so many other Uni students led me to taking a gap year as a completely viable option. The logistical advantages to taking a gap year were furthered once I found a few appropriate and convenient programs. As my interests fell into place, I also recognized the intellectual opportunities associated with a gap year. The prospect of becoming fluent in a foreign language through the exciting and effective (although terrifying) method of total immersion was extremely alluring. Although at the time, I thought that these two pieces were enough, as departure date approached, I became aware of the third, final, and most important factor in my decision.

I can't quite think of a nifty, little heading (like logistical piece or intellectual piece) for this part. I was going to call it the experiential part because that is close to what I mean but even that doesn't quite cut it. Instead, I'll just talk about it a little. It has something to do with proportion and self-worth. Uni (my tiny little high school) makes many of its students feel big. The small building and student body and its much larger reputation make the individual feel seen. Students feel like they are known for something, whether it be music, athletics, academics, or being a gamer. You build a name and persona at Uni and you feel big. As the new ranks of graduates leave Uni's safe, enclosed space each May, the vast world is starting to creep up on the unsuspecting rising Seniors. It isn't really the world though; it's that all-American college application process. All of a sudden, the applicant feels small. He or she becomes a data point in an admission statistic and seventeen or eighteen years of life are reduced to 50-500 word essays. I wanted to go away from home for college so I could have a new perspective. I grew up a Midwestern kid but I wanted to grow up gaining perspectives, not just strengthening old ones. So my college search took me all over the Midwest, South states, and East coast. In my final two, I had a southern school and an east coast school. Surely, I thought, between these two places, I can get the education I want to prepare me for the real world. So I made my decision and went to the admitted students weekend at Brown. However, sitting in a room of brilliant students who will be your classmates for the next four years, doesn't actually make you feel bigger. It kind of makes you feel smaller because everyone there is all special and smart and stuff. Then the admissions counselor gets to the admission stats about international students. The guy next to me leans over and asks me, "Why would you want to go to college abroad?"and I finally had that "moment" that everyone talks about with gap years and college searches. Super cheesy, I know, but it actually happened to me with gap years! I got that realization that would keep me going through the hardest days and academic struggles.

So here it is: I want to be part of a global community. Everyday the internet and technology makes the world a bit smaller and I think that being able to navigate more than one culture prepares me for the impending globalization of... well everything. Even though I'm only in one other country, and only for a year, potentially, I can become a part of so many communities. A gap year also arms me with a score of skills not taught in school. This experience helps me stand out in a room full of amazing people. I know that I can bring new perspectives to the table in anything I work on.

As suggested by my YFU group leaders, I wrote myself a letter reminding myself why I chose to do this. I can read it if I need inspiration when everything seems impossible in German. Although I wouldn't have gotten here without pieces one and two,  my letter is about the third piece because logistics and intellect aren't going to get me through a hard day. As of yet, I can't quite speak to the effectiveness because I've only been here two days, but I'll keep you posted!