Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - September/October 2010 - (Page 34)

one step ahead My So-Called Gap Year I never much liked the term “gap year”—or, even worse, “year off.” Both make it sound like there’s a chunk missing from my life, a year-long void between my high school graduation and my college orientation, when nothing could be farther from the truth. But “gap year” remains the popular term for a year-long departure from the school system to experience other aspects of life, so, okay, I took a “gap year.” When I first decided to delay college for a year, I didn’t really want a “year off,” but a “year different.” I used to love school, but by the end of senior year I was so swamped with commitments that it wasn’t even fun anymore. The thought of four more years pulling late nights writing essays and studying for tests made me want to cry. I thought that maybe if I spent a year doing something else, I could recharge my academic battery and be excited to go college, instead of dreading the thought. But what else was there to do? Lots, as it turns out! There are a plethora of choices for “gap year” activities, and I picked Americorps. Service and independence were my two goals for the year; I wanted to help others, but live on my own. The Americorps program lets members do just that, and provides a living stipend and education award, too. Because the commitment was only for 11 months, it was easy for my college to defer my admission for one year. Within the programs that were open to high school grads, my boyfriend and I decided that we really liked the mission of Habitat for Humanity. We applied to several Habitat affiliates, got in to one in Phoenix, Arizona, and packed our bags to move across the country. After we arrived, I quickly settled into my cubicle, where I spent four days a week coordinating thousands of volunteers—e-mailing, calling, scheduling, recruiting, running orientations, and much more. On Saturdays, I joined the construction sites to help with paperwork, safety, and volunteer communication—and, of course, to help build, too! by Camila Domonoske Does that sound like a “gap” to you? Me neither! It didn’t even feel like I was taking a break from my education—I was just learning in different ways. With Habitat, I learned about the non-profit sector, three-tiered mortgages, and nail-gun safety. And when I made the earth-shattering discovery that a 9-to-5 job can actually end at 5—no homework, no papers, no tests!—I spent my new free time learning the Lindy Hop, cooking Indian food, and tackling books like Gravity’s Rainbow. There were challenges, to be sure. It was hard to live independently, and to know few people my own age. When I did go to college, I felt much older than my classmates and sometimes resented the rules of a freshman dorm after experiencing the freedom of my own apartment. But it was worth it. During my so-called “gap year,” I learned a lot about myself and about the world, gained confidence and independence, and recovered from a draining four years of high school. Most importantly, at the end my service, I was excited to go to college. Instead of dreading essays and tests, I was looking forward to them— and to everything else about college. It wasn’t a year “off,” but a year spent transitioning from one part of my life to another. In fact, I think I’ve found a better phrase for that year-spent-differently: a “bridge year.” Not a gap, not an empty space, but a road from one school to another, and a journey connecting two different times of my life. i A junior majoring in English at Davidson college in North carolina, camila Domonoske is also a swing dancer, a journalism geek, and a localfoods enthusiast. She wrote this article over the summer while conducting research in the Philippines for an article about the young generation of Filipino women’s rights activists. 34 imagine iStock Sept/Oct 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - September/October 2010

Imagine Magazine - John Hopkins - September/October 2010
Contents
Big Questions
Big Picture
In My Own Words
Biotechnology is
A Survival Guide for the Biotech Revolution
The Indiana Jones of Biotech
Stemming the Monster
Transgenic Animals
Building a Better Hydrogel
Immortal Cells & Bioethics
Selected Opportunities & Resources
Nights at the Museum
One Step Ahead
Middle Ground
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Creative Minds Imagine
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - September/October 2010