Live Laugh Love by Chloe

Live Laugh Love by Chloe - August 2019 Scholarship Essay

If I had the opportunity to go back in time and tell myself to take a gap year, I would hold everything hostage except for my passport, my wallet and a backpack of necessities. Instead of purchasing that live, laugh, love poster and “exotic” rug for my dorm room I would be putting it toward a travel jar and explore some faraway place where English is only for the business class and a food is still kicking before its served to you. I am sure 90% of the responses will be to travel in some shape or form, and if everyone’s thinking it then it must be the right thing to do.

Now when I mean travel, I mean to get lost in another country preferably one that doesn’t speak English. Though to some people who may have never left their hometown, this task could be daunting. So, for those individuals maybe start off small with some place like Canada, but for everyone else get out of your comfort zone and experience a different culture, explore other traditions, and in the process find out who you truly are. Eventually those Canadian travelers will be coming your way. The whole goal for this isn’t just to brag on social media how gorgeous and lucky you are to be swimming in the Mediterranean or walking the streets of Bangkok, but to truly find yourself and understand what kind of life you want. I hope there are days you struggle to find food or a place to sleep so you understand the hardships of majority of the population. I hope you see beauty in nature, so you understand how important conservation is. I hope you interact with all sorts of people, so you understand culture its differences and its similarities. Above all I hope that you take full advantage of the gap year and not only enjoy life but use it to find what path you really want to take down it. Let’s be honest jumping straight from high school to college doesn’t teach you anything about adulthood, responsibilities or in general life. Sure, students start to learn what finances are via student debt and the meaning behind chores, well some people, but it’s not a memorable experience something to look back on and reference as a point of growth or contention. Its just school. Taking a gap year will allow a better understanding to real world problems and mature solutions and problem-solving skills to prepare you for college. Go party in the streets of Argentina instead of a dirty Fraternity and experience what it truly means to live, laugh, love.

“Hindsight is always 20/20,” is a quote I hate to love because I only say it when I know I could’ve have done something better, but that doesn’t stop me from doing better in the future. I take this opportunity to reflect on the possibilities of doing a gap year and maybe before I start my career after college, I’ll take a gap year, to visit places I haven’t. I’ve always wanted to go to Thailand, and I heard it to be cheap, not that money should be a concern if I win the scholarship I am applying to. So, help a student out by fulfilling not only a dream but also her education.