The Gap Year

Hey all! As many of you know, I will be spending most of September 2017-April 2018 doing a Gap Year. I have had so many people ask me “What in the world is a Gap Year?” Many people think that I am just sitting out of college my first year. That is not true…well, not completely true. I am not going to college this year, and I am, by far, not just sitting around!

A Gap Year is the year between high school and college, or the year right after you graduate college, when you take that time to travel and give back to the world around you. There are many programs available. Some are Christian organizations that offer extended short term mission trips, some are humanitarian organizations, some offer college scholarships or college credits, and so much more. If you are interested, search the web. There are a ton of programs available.

What are the advantages of a Gap Year? (All of this came from this ARTICLE)

*One of the biggest advantages of gap years is that students will be more mature when they begin college.

*Students will academically perform better compared with non-gap year students.

*Students are challenged to leave their comfort zone.

*Students have the opportunity to regroup and refocus.

*Gap year students who return to college invigorated about life will experience new motivation and confidence to make the most of their college experience.

All of these advantages were important to me. After just returning from the mission field, I did not feel ready to head straight into college. I needed time to readjust. Quite honestly, I needed time away from my family to learn independence that I wasn’t able to have living in such close proximity to them. Don’t get me wrong…I love my family and am very close to them…maybe too close to them. Unlike your typical high school student, I didn’t get “independence opportunities” while in La Represa. I didn’t get my license and a car and a job and a social life separate than my family when I turned 16. We all needed to learn independence from one another. The Gap Year program afforded me the opportunity to practice my independence with adults, other than my parents, to be there to help me without having to stress about college and grades.

With all of that being said, here is what my Gap Year consists of:

*In September, I will be working at an orphanage in Cambodia. We will teach the kids English and spend time getting to know them and pouring into them spiritually.

*In October and November, I will be working on a farm in Thailand. This farm works in conjunction with a program for women who have been sexually exploited. We will help to teach them organic farming, teamwork, crafts, and various other activities. We will also work with children’s home for children who are at risk of being exploited.

*From January-April, I will be working alongside a vet associated with an animal rescue program in Ecuador. This program accepted 25 students internationally. I cannot tell you how excited I am to have been one of them. My dream, since I was 5 years old, has been to be a vet. This program will put me one step closer to that dream! Plus…I can get college credits for this!

I want to thank each and every one of you that have prayed with me while preparing for this year and each one of you that helped me financially. I am so grateful that I met my complete funding goal for the program in Cambodia and Thailand!

I am still trusting and believing that God is going to provide complete funding for Ecuador as well. I am still $5000 away from that goal.

Would you prayerfully consider supporting me with my goal? If so, please comment below and I will give you instructions on where you can give.

Thank you all so much! I will soon be posting blogs and pics about my time here in Cambodia!!!