Taking a year to grow by Angela

Taking a year to grow by Angela - August 2019 Scholarship Essay

Taking a gap year between high school and college is an extremely big decision to make because for most people, this would mean putting your academic life on hold to pursue other things. I believe a gap year used correctly could be extremely beneficial to a student because it would give them new opportunities that help them explore their academic and personal interests. Used correctly, a gap year could be used to build a foundation in a specific field or explore volunteer opportunities to help those less fortunate than themselves or improve the environment.
Personally, given the chance to take a gap year, I would spend my time in a similar way to what I previously described. My goals and aspirations are to become a neurosurgeon, so during my gap year I would explore my interest in medicine and learn to use my skills of communication, problem solving and persistence to help me advance in the field. I grew up the child of a single parent – My Dad. As a result, I did not get the opportunity to participate in many extra-curricular activities, aside from those sponsored by my school, due to the responsibilities that I had being an only child and young woman in our home. I was responsible for all of the cooking, cleaning and other housework because of my father’s more traditional views on a woman's role. I regret not being able to take advantage of more extra-curricular activities due to my duties so given a gap year I would make up for lost time and participate more actively in my community. One of my main priorities I would focus on in my gap year is getting a job in the medical field. Specifically as an intern or assistant at my pediatrician’s medical practice or perhaps get a position at my local Inova hospital. This would allow me to be around doctors and to see firsthand what their job entails. By observing them doing their jobs, I would learn how they handle the daily stresses of their profession and effectively prepare myself for the stress that is to come as I pursue my interest in the medical field. Working in the medical environment would also provide an opportunity to find mentors who could provide me with encouragement and steer me in the right direction during my academic pursuit. A mentor would also help me to be able to gain clarity as to whether medicine is for me and if so, provide the tools and skills I need to be successful in college the following year. I would not only grow mentally, but an experience like this would help me grow financially because of my need for money to fund my education.
During this gap year I would also volunteer in rehabilitation center or a shelter so that I can get experience working directly with those who are ill, disabled or in need. This would help me to better understand their needs and perspective. Getting a better understanding of what people are going through could help me better understand how to best assist them and others in their same situation. When I become a doctor, I want the opportunity to build a trusting relationship with my patients rather than have a stereotypically estranged doctor-patient relationship, so I believe volunteering in positions like this will teach me to better serve people and better understand where they are coming from by building up the empathy within me. I would also spend my gap year taking classes at the community college so that I can remain sharp and not lose touch with proper study habits. I really enjoy learning, so I would dedicate my time to taking classes in subjects that I may be weak in and use the smaller class sizes of community college to receive closer attention and better opportunities for assistance to grow. Taking classes would also help me to accumulate credits that can go towards my degree in university and skills to better prepare me for the more rigorous classes associated with my degree in the future.
The path to becoming a medical doctor potentially involves over a decade in school, a gap year would provide an opportunity to gain experience outside of an academic environment, while gaining relevant experience in the real-world. Using the year to learn about myself, my intended progression without academic stresses, I feel it would be healthy for me mentally and beneficial to my ultimate goal, whether the path of internship or the contingency of volunteering in the community is explored.