For a lot of people, going to college is a given. After going to school for 12 years of my life, I wasn’t quite ready to commit to another four. Today it is almost expected that you’ll go to college immediately after high school and while there is nothing wrong with that, I knew it wouldn’t work for me.
Like most things in life, I was incredibly indecisive about which school I wanted to go to. I was denied entrance to my dream school, the University of Chicago, and after that, my college plans were shaky at best. At one point, I was committed to three different schools; I think that’s probably a record. However, I knew that if I committed to a school without being completely sure, it would most likely result in a lot more confusion later on.
To give myself time to mull over my options and to take some much needed time off, I decided to take a gap semester with the possibility for it to turn into a gap year. I was ecstatic, but I was surrounded by doubters. The most common question I was asked was, “Aren’t you worried you won’t go back to school?” No, not really, but thanks for your concern. Then when I made the choice to spend my time off in Spain, I was greeted with even more questions. My favorite questions being, “You won’t know anyone!” and “You’re going by yourself?” Last time I checked, yes.
About two weeks before I was set to fly to Spain, I applied to UW-Madison on a whim. If I was accepted for the spring semester, I would start in January. If I wasn’t, I had a full year off to make a decision that would have a resounding impact on the rest of my life. For the time being though, I did not have to worry about school, work, or choosing a major. A huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders.
Traveling to Spain marked my first time traveling solo as well as being my first time in Europe, but I knew it wouldn’t be the last. As much as people thought I was insane for traveling to a foreign country on my own, I did more research for my trip before I left than I did for all of the colleges I applied to. Spain was not a spontaneous decision. A high school Spanish teacher taught me about the Camino de Santiago, which sparked my interest in Spain and the Spanish culture. I knew that my first time in Europe needed to be in Spain.
While I was in Spain, I fell in love with the country and I relished their more relaxed way of life. I couldn’t get enough of the architecture, the history, the food, and the culture. I was able to truly relax and to focus solely on me for the first time in as long as I could remember. I met incredible people that I will know for the rest of my life but, even better, got to know myself. For the previous 12 years, my life had revolved around school and I was never given an opportunity to take a break and figure out who I was or who I wanted to be. My gap semester in Spain allowed me to grow as a person and I was irrevocably changed.
I started school at UW-Madison that January and sure, it was tricky getting back into the swing of things, but when you’ve been in school for most of your life, you pick up where you left off pretty quickly. My gap semester may also have made staying in Wisconsin more difficult than it would have been otherwise, but I have and am continuing to realize that college is also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thus, I am learning to make the most of it. I have lost countless nights of sleep, I’ll be in debt up to my ears when I graduate, but I have met amazing people that have changed my life in ways I could never have believed possible.
I am continuing to grow as a person and I am learning how important it is to appreciate where you are at any given moment in life. If you find yourself in school, embrace it. If you’re working 40 hours a week, make the most of it. Maybe most importantly, if you’re given a chance to discover yourself, wherever that might be, take it.
