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Steph Davenport
EF Gap Year Consultant – Denver, CO
Hey, I’m Steph and I wish I had taken a gap year! Seriously, how many adults in your life have told you they wish they'd traveled more when they were younger? If you haven’t heard it yet, you will—and it’s true. I’ve been so lucky to travel throughout my early 20s, but the sooner you start, the more you'll be able to see. Traveling teaches you so much about the world, and more importantly, about yourself and what's important to you. With every experience you have, the easier the learning becomes.
When I was a junior in college, I had the chance to study in Australia—you know, after I had already chosen a college close to home and randomly picked a major because I had to. That experience abroad was one of the most transformative experiences of my entire life: I went from crying in my apartment the first day to going skydiving and bungee jumping in New Zealand just a few months later, surrounded by new friends. I grew more in those six months than I had the first 20 years of my life! My only wish was that I had taken that time to travel and grow before I had committed to life-altering decisions about college and my career. Once you start down that path, it can be a little harder to go in a different direction.
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!
Steph's Ultimate Gap Year
On my ultimate gap year, I’d set foot on as many continents as possible! I’ve love to spend the year traveling through Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. There’s so much to experience and I want to fill up my passport.
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Language in Tamarindo, Costa Rica
A chance to work on my Spanish while surrounded by monkeys, sloths, and toucans? A perfect change of pace after hitting the busy cities around Europe with the group? Sí, por favor! Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, full of rainforests and beaches; I’d spend the six weeks in nature, embracing pura vida with the locals.
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Internship in Tokyo, Japan
After months of traveling, I would feel ready to take on the challenge of living in one of the world’s biggest cities: the bright, fast-paced city of Tokyo! A wild mix of technology, music, and business along with a super cool culture of zen relaxation—this would be the perfect module to live independently and explore all sides of myself.
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Service Learning in Thailand
I'd choose Thailand for a few reasons. One: it's a new continent! On my Gap, I'd choose to see as much of the world as possible. Two: I briefly had the chance to work on an elephant sanctuary in the past and it was one of the highlights of my travels. Plus, a couple days in the islands in Thailand after a month of service sounds perfect!