Join me on a flashback to my senior year of high school: back then, I was interested in so many things that I wasn't sure how to narrow them down for college, which I assumed had to be the immediate next step. After a tough freshman year, I realized that in order to feel connected to my community and choose the right academic path to pursue, I needed to learn through experience and gain new perspective.

I decided to do a gap program in Chile: I left the U.S. for the first time on a wilderness education experience and backpacked, kayaked, and mountaineered my way to a new understanding of myself. The power of gap years lies in out-of-classroom experiences that prepare you to be your best self when you return to them. I believe the world would be a better place if more people took some time to grow and learn about themselves before college.

I know talking on the phone isn't anyone's favorite thing to do, but here's why calls are part of our process: taking a gap year is an incredible, life-changing decision—one that you'll feel way more confident about after talking it all over with an expert who can guide you through the process of building your perfect gap. Baby steps, though, so feel free to start by texting me!