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© Korea Gapyear
I met Lee Jun-yeop, the author of the book "Running Through Blue Days," who is currently studying at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
We were able to share many stories about the gap year Jun-yeop spent.
To discover his present and future while experiencing the 'real' world,For one year, in 11 countries (China, India, New Zealand, Italy,
Spain, the UK, France, the Netherlands, Israel, Kenya, and Dubai)This is the story of his gap year spent in those countries.
I'll travel, see, and feel exactly as I want for just one year!
Q.Q. You put your one-year gap year into a book. Why did you publish it?
A. While participating in a gap year program in China, I kept a diary every day. It became a habit, so I wrote in my diary throughout the year.
And after the gap year ended, I organized these writings and published a book. I've always liked writing.
Q.You went to study abroad in your childhood. What was the reason?
A. The first time I went to study abroad was when I was 10. To be honest, I don't remember exactly. My father is a Korean traditional medicine doctor and wanted me to become one. He said I could practice in Korea and saw no need to go abroad.According to my mother, I was really bad at English at the language academy. I seemed smart, but my English was very poor. Since I wasn't good at English, I told my parents I wanted to study abroad.(I studied in New Zealand and then went to the United States to study again)I wanted to go out into a bigger world. Both my parents and I wanted that.
Q.When did you take your gap year?
A. I took it immediately after graduating high school. After submitting my college application, the university...the deferment systemwhich allows you to delay enrollment for about a year. So I used the deferment system to take a gap year.(Is the deferment system widely used in the U.S.?)Yes, it's common.(How long do students usually take for a gap year?)Usually a gap year is one year. Some students take a semester off while attending school. During that semester they might work, do something they want to do, or just rest.
Q.In fact, some students want to go but their parents oppose it for financial or safety reasons.
Was there any parental opposition to you taking a gap year?
A. At that time our family was in good financial condition, so there wasn't a financial problem in taking a gap year. Also, my family had a global mindset, so there was no issue. Actually, when I went abroad in fourth grade my father strongly opposed it, but my mother was persuasive, so after that my parents did not oppose going overseas. My parents are devout Christians. They believed that God would protect me even when I went abroad.
Q.You visited 11 countries during your gap year. What were the criteria for choosing the countries?
A. I chose some countries because a friend lived there, and I used information from the book 'The World Travel Bible' to choose others. And I picked countries I had been interested in.(Was the gap year planned in advance?)I applied for a OneWorld round-the-world ticket and set a rough timeframe. I stayed longest in China. I participated in a gap year program there. After that I was in India. India is huge, so I think I stayed about six weeks. In China I traveled, lived in a mountain village above the clouds with fewer than 100 people, visited grasslands where people farm, did a six-week homestay, took language lessons, and did an internship. I also did a lot of trekking. I even went to Tibet and taught English to children.
Q.Were there any memorable experiences during your gap year across the 11 countries?
A. The most memorable experience was the activities I did at an Israeli kibbutz (a volunteer program). I stayed for three weeks and did various jobs. There were many kinds of farm work: picking fruit, climbing trees to prune branches, taking care of goats, working a lot in the kitchen, helping make artworks, and looking after children — really a wide range of tasks.(In a way, activities that could be described as labor...do you think it became an experience?) I had only been studying and reading books until then, but there are many people in the world who work physically. By doing physical work, I think I was able to gain an understanding of the world.
© Korea Gapyear
I think the gap year was a special time.
Q.In the West English is widespread, but in Korea many people still have a fear of English.
How much English do you think is necessary when doing a gap year?
A. I'm not sure how good your English needs to be. While travelers were sharing information, I learned about a meditation program in India. So I once signed up for a ten-day meditation program in India. During meditation I didn't say a single word. There are activities you can do that don't necessarily require language (laughs).
Q.Many people who already know about the concept of a gap year are preparing for U.S. colleges.
The controversial point is whether taking a gap year is advantageous or disadvantageous for admission to U.S. colleges; what do you think about that?
A. From what I've seen, it seems to have more benefits. After taking a gap year you become much more mature, and that maturity shows when writing essays for U.S. colleges. You can also get supplementary lessons you lacked during the gap year. There's an older student who served as a professional soldier in the Middle East before attending and graduating from a U.S. college. In his case, it doesn't seem like U.S. colleges penalize gap years or delayed entry.
Q.I've heard that Europe is positive about gap years, but there are quite a few who say that isn't the case in the U.S. What do you think?
A. I don't think that's necessarily true. I'm not an expert, but in the cases I've seen there are many friends who take a gap year, apply, and still get into good colleges. A gap year tends to improve your profile rather than set it back.
Q.Whether the gap year experience is connected to who I am now, not just temporary
Whether it continues to have a lasting impact to this dayI'm curious
A. Speaking about my field of study: my focus, which had been business and engineering, shifted toward the humanities after my gap year rather than engineering. But I think everything I do affects my life now.The gap year felt like a special time.I developed a habit of taking an interest in and looking into the cultures of places I visited.
Q.Recently, many friends are going abroad.What are the advantages of spending a gap year abroad?
A. You can first take time to rest — time off, time to recharge. You can reflect on whether the path you're on is really what you want. You can have new experiences, find new passions, and I think it helps your resume. These days companies also like it when you include a gap year story in interviews. But I don't think you necessarily have to go abroad for a gap year.
A mindset of 'it doesn't matter when I die'.
Q.How would you describe the changes in yourself before and after the gap year?
A. I think my mindset shifted from an American way of thinking to a European one. I changed to 'let's enjoy life more' and decided to live more spontaneously. After experiencing a gap year, regrets disappeared and I felt freed, almost as if 'it wouldn't matter when I die.' So I became happier. During the gap year I witnessed global issues and thought I should become someone great to solve them.(Which global problems are you referring to that you saw during the gap year?)Simply put, you could mention poverty. You could also mention cases where people are oppressed because of long-standing traditions.
Q. You're attending school — do you travel often?
A. These days I don't have many opportunities to travel. This past summer I went to Montreal with my then-girlfriend. And two years ago I crossed the United States by bicycle while taking part in a house-building program (Habitat for Humanity). I cycled five days a week, spent one day volunteering building houses, and had one day off.(Are there any countries you'd like to visit again now?) I really want to go to Brazil. I like soccer.
Q. What are your plans for the future?
A. I'm interested in writing books, and I also write columns for newspapers.
I teach humanities through a high school summer school. I'm also interested in startups and business.
Q. Lastly,Do you have any advice for students planning to take a gap year?
A. I'd say that taking a gap year lets you realize that your possibilities are limitless. I also hope they'll explore the wider world instead of staying confined to one country.I'd like to recommend a book called "The World Travel Bible." This book will be a great help for traveling around the world.
Author Lee Jun-yeop of the book "Running the Blue Days"
Born in Seoul in 1990, he spent his middle and high school years in New Zealand and the United States. He graduated as valedictorian from the prestigious U.S. private high school Phillips Exeter Academy, and is currently studying entrepreneurship, management, and intellectual history at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (an Ivy League university).
Before entering university, he took a one-year gap year to step away from theoretical study and school, to experience the real world and discover his present and future. During that time, by traveling the world, he found at least some answers to the many questions and desires he had..
- Source: 'Sigongsa'
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HAMTORI.Editor
onlyhaedun@gmail.com