Exploring Outside Your Comfort Zone by Sierra

Exploring Outside Your Comfort Zone by Sierra - August 2019 Scholarship Essay

When answering the question of how to make the most of a gap year, I am pleased to speak from experience rather than speculation. After graduating with my Bachelor’s degree from University of Oregon, I decided to take a year off before graduate school. The intention of taking this gap year was not only to save money to fund my next level of education, but also to gain real world experience and find some clarity about the career I wanted to pursue. I had always known that I wanted to do something in the medical field but I was not certain what role was the best fit for me.
Following the advice of a friend who told me “the greatest growth happens when you are outside of your comfort zone”, I decided to apply for programs that would take me away from the setting and community in which I had grown up. In order to gain insight about what type of graduate school to attend, I made sure to look for jobs and volunteer opportunities that were in line with the career I thought I wanted to pursue. This led me to an AmeriCorps Community HealthCorps program in New York City, where I had the opportunity to work closely with doctors and nurses to lead health initiatives and educational events in our community. During this year of service, I learned an incredible amount – not only about community health and the ways clinicians can contribute, but also about myself. Thanks to this experience, I discovered a passion for nursing and I have now been accepted to the Master of Nursing program at University of Sydney.
My advice to someone that wants to make the most of their gap year is to not only use the time to gain experience in your field so that you can be assured you are following the right career path, but to also use the time to grow as an individual. The “best gap year” is one where you can challenge yourself, immerse yourself in new communities, and open the doors to experiences that are entirely different from the ones you have lived thus far. The easy route will always be to stick to your comfort zone, but the rewarding route, while it may seem intimidating, is the one that you have not yet explored.