A Gap Year of Team Building and Self-Building by Abby

A Gap Year of Team Building and Self-Building by Abby - August 2019 Scholarship Essay

I know first-hand the benefits of taking a gap year. A few years ago I took a gap year after not getting into the graphic design program at a different university. After getting my Associate degree, I decided to take a break from classes. I ended up taking a job on campus as a graphic designer, to build up my skills and get some real-world experience. My team was part of the Information Technology department, in charge of keeping the university's web presence up and running. I was designing websites, editing photos, and creating graphics for different departments and their online-needs. Being part of that team really bolstered my confidence and helped me become a more well-rounded designer. One of the hardest things for me about being in graphic design classes before was the competitive nature; no one was willing to help each other because we all wanted a spot in the program. Being on a team felt more like what I'd be doing in a design career, working with others instead of working against them.

In order to continue learning while I wasn't in classes, I would gain new skills by using online tutorials and learn how to become proficient in other design disciplines. My favorite thing I learned was how to design characters. I have always loved to draw and illustrate, but becoming more trained in the field has been really beneficial. Since leaving that team and transferring universities, I have illustrated children's books as a freelance designer, and been hired on the Information Technology design team at my current school. Without my gap year of working and experience learning, I would not have had these opportunities. I have decided to only do design part-time and have gone back to school studying Art History and Italian. I don't think taking a gap year is for everyone, but for me it was exactly what I needed to get to know myself better.