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Focus only on your own growth.
GapYear is a time for growth and happiness.
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39th GapperSong Geun-nyeong
A two-month gap year in total
Two-month challenge: cycling across the United States with my younger sibling
The First Step to Diverse Experiences: Cycling Across the United States
After being discharged from the military, I thought deeply about what I wanted to do, and I believed I needed to try a variety of experiences to find out. I searched eagerly for diverse opportunities, and during that time I learned about cycling across the United States. The moment I saw this challenge, my heart burned. I felt it would be a truly great challenge in my life, and I had a hunch I would gain many different experiences.
So I spent about six months preparing to cycle across the North American continent. Although I decided to start, it felt too overwhelming to cover the roughly 10 million won cost during the semester through part-time work. Then I learned online that some people carry out challenges or projects through sponsorships, and we decided to prepare in the same way.
For about four months, I prepared proposals and sent them to dozens of companies, and I entered every contest or event I could find.It was an opportunity to learn what it means to make do with what you have and to see that if you keep knocking, doors will open. Because I wanted it so badly and was so determined, that resourcefulness showed even more.I was able to feel and learn a great deal even before starting the U.S. crossing.
# Crossing about 7,200 km over 75 days — what kept us going was people's encouragement
My brother and I set out from Los Angeles Airport relying on bicycles and crossed for about 75 days, covering approximately 7,200 km (18 U.S. states, 3 Canadian provinces).
During those 75 days, which could be seen as short or long, many things happened.The heat waves we encountered in the West were truly brutal; we rode our bikes over a ridge of the vast Rocky Mountains and at times were chased off the highways by the police. Also, because of limited travel funds, we had to find free places to sleep each time — Warm Showers (a bicycle touring community), private homes, or places like churches or fire stations — so every day was a new challenge and an exciting adventure.
Although it was a series of truly difficult moments, this adventure brought encounters with many different people, and through meeting them we experienced various ways of life and perspectives. Also, thanks to their encouragement and help, we were able to continue the crossing to the end.Korean churches, the many people we met by chance, pastors, Warm Showers hosts, and upperclassmen who helped us simply because we were junior students — without their help and encouragement, this would have been a very difficult challenge.
At our final destination, Times Square in New York, when we unfurled our banner and told people about Dokdo, I felt an indescribable sense of accomplishment and joy. It was the greatest challenge and adventure of my life, and I live now guided by what I felt and learned from this experience.
# Two things I gained through my gap year
First, it was a process that allowed me to think more deeply about myself.
Putting aside anyone else's perspective and the environment I was in,I could focus solely on 'me' and imagine how I should live, my happiness, and my lifestyle.Of course, when I returned to reality I had to adapt to real-life circumstances, but I consider that time to have been truly precious.
Second, I think I became more flexible in my thinking overall.
It's what we call the 'self-labeling effect.' If we define ourselves as 'this kind of person,' we tend to act in ways consistent with that, whether it's right or wrong. I was the same. But after having diverse experiences and being placed in different situations, I discovered many aspects of myself that were quite different from what I had thought, and I realized that traits or situations I believed didn't suit me could, in certain contexts, fit me very well and even make me shine. Through this,I became able to consider various possibilities instead of boxing myself into a particular mold.The same applies when facing tasks. In the past I tended to think that if something was impossible, then it was simply impossible. But now I try to view the problems and situations I face more flexibly and think about ways to solve them. I believe this flexibility of thinking has brought considerable changes to my life after my gap year.
# A Word to Friends Who Want to Take a Gap Year
I don’t think it needs to be grand. What’s important is to clearly identify why you’re taking a gap year and to think deeply about how you will carry it out. If you do that, a gap year can become a turning point that changes your life or an opportunity for further growth. Good luck. ^^
Recommendations and submissions for the 100 gap-year participants are always welcome. Please leave a comment or a message, or email Marketing Manager Da-young Choi (choi@koreagapyear.com)! |