Risk. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a risk is “someone or something that creates or suggest a hazard.” But as I have come to learn over this past year, everything in life has a different meaning to each person. To me, a risk is not suggesting something hazardous, but an adventure that challenges me to remove myself from my comfort zone. That is why I decided to take a risk, leave everything behind me, and embark on the biggest adventure of my life. A gap year.
A gap year is a term not often thought about by high school seniors that are about to enter college. For me, a gap year was the only term in my vocabulary. Although I could have easily gone to Franklin and Marshall College last year after being accepted Early Decision, I needed a change in my life. What could have been a bigger change than traveling the world and learning about different careers and cultures? So that is exactly what I did.
My year started off in New Zealand where I spent one month interning at Zealandia: The Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, monitoring native bird species. My second month living in New Zealand with Live New Zealand Internships, I was working at a public school in Wellington with the 6 year old students. I made my way over to Australia in November to volunteer with Conservation Volunteers Australia for three weeks before returning home to New Jersey for two weeks. In December, I flew down to Jaco, Costa Rica where I studied Spanish and Photography for three weeks at the School of the World.
After another quick trip back home to visit, I went to Salvador, Brazil with Cross-Cultural Solutions for two months. I was living with other volunteers and working in an orphanage with children from one month old to 19. Following my amazing two months in Brazil, I met my parents in Costa Rica to show them around for a week. We traveled together back to the United States and together prepared for the last stretch of my year. I spent March, April and May teaching at Echo Hill Outdoor School in Worton, Maryland.Since I have been back home, people are always asking me, “Do you regret taking a year off before college?” I try not to look at them like they are crazy and reply, “Taking this gap year was the best decision I have made in my life.”
What does this have to do with anything? Everything. I spent three weeks in Jaco, Costa Rica. I felt as if I was there for two days. A lot happened and changed over those few weeks, literally and philosophically, but it went quicker than I ever expected.
I have not become a psychic, but I know what you are wondering…What changed? What did you learn?
After letting my experience settle for a whole day, I have recognized a few things in myself. I went from loving to be by myself before I traveled to New Zealand, to loving to constantly be with others, to having to learn to be alone when I returned home after three months of travel Down Under, to finding a balance of alone and friend time.
Lesson one: Balance.
The second, and so far final thoughts that have been racing around in my mind is the whole idea of pura vida. I know I have already written about its significance and meaning, but it has really become something vital to m
y philosophies on life. If you live your life doing what makes you happy, and are not too concerned with minute issues, you will live a uniquely happy life. I want to do what I love in my life, otherwise all I will think about are my regrets. Have no regrets. I do not want to walk around being paranoid all the time, like most people from the United States are, so I will no longer have this constant paranoia that everyone is out to get me. I will be aware of my surroundings and wise about my actions, but not paranoid.
Lesson two: Pura Vida.
Now for the less serious business…
Costa Rica was AWESOME!!! I would recommend the School of the World to just about an
yone…well anyone that is interested in learning Spanish, Surfing, Photography, or Yoga. I met a lot of amazing and unique people there from diverse backgrounds. The locals in Jaco were also extremely friendly and fun to hang out with. I was warned that Jaco is not the best place in Costa Rica to visit, but I was pleasantly surprised. I felt very safe in the city. It’s one of those places that people will talk and whistle, but nobody will touch you. I really hope to go back to Escuela Del Mundo again very soon! It was an awesome place to live and learn.
