A year of foundation by Alyssa

A year of foundation by Alyssa - August 2019 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my life as a high school student, I am continuously surrounded by the topic of a gap year, when one takes an extra year after graduating high school and before entering college. I hear of students who wish they would have saved up for one, or from students who personally have taken the year , and tell of the experiences and memories they have gained due to it. If I had the means to take a gap year, I would ensure that it was full of productivity, and time to enravel what truly makes me feel fulfilled in life, while gaining work experience that would prepare me for the future that awaits me. My gap year would serve as a foundation for the education and experiences I will encounter in college, and over the course of my life.
Because I am enraptured by both travel and journalism, the destination for my gap year would be in a foreign city consisting of strong culture and media, such as a city in Spain or Italy. I would be enabled to write from a new perspective, on topics that that feel just as foreign to me as the new city would. Ever since I was a young child, I have dreamed of pursuing my passion of writing. Spending a year before college in a new country gives me the opportunity to do so, even before I set foot in school. To gain work experience, I would find a local newspaper that I would be able to intern and report for. I would be enabled to watch reporters who currently have my dream job, and I would learn firsthand what the career is like.
As for the “experience” aspect that is usually associated with gap years, I would make a lengthy bucket-list, composed of all the wonderful activities I hear about from those who live there. I have always been intrigued by the arts, thus it is important for me to visit history and art museums, along with musicals and plays. Additionally, I would like to learn the native language while I am there, because it is important to me that I am able to speak more than two languages. The most effective way to truly learn a new language is to observe and learn from those who speak it as their first. Lastly, due to having newfound time on my hands, I would take up another job, in addition to being a writer. Because I have a lust to meet new people, it would have to include working with others, such as being a waitress at a crowded restaurant, or selling books in a quaint bookstore.
By embarking on a gap year, I would learn how to take care of myself, with no one else aiding. Such a thing would be a valuable experience for college. Besides responsibility, I will also be taught independence, and that it is okay to be alone, something that I have struggled with before.
With a gap year, I would be able to achieve goals and learn valuable lessons early on in life. With a gap year, I would be thrust into culture and education. I would be productive each day, such as working and writing to gain experience. Simultaneously, I would also be living my life in awe of the world around me, as there is so much beauty and activities to participate in. Most prominently, however, it is important to me that I use the year for preparation, for college, my career, and the real world. I would utilize my gap year as a foundation, the first layer, of what I hope to achieve in my education, and ultimately, my life.