Alum Avneet Grewal creates documentary about her apprenticeship at Cape Town TV

Inspired by her apprenticeship with Cape Town TV — which has been providing media training and community-centered programs since 2007 — Take Action Lab alum Avneet Grewal produced an original documentary film about her experience at CTV.    Hear Avneet’s story in her own words — grab some popcorn and watch My first international internship at […]

Gen Z’s priorities are changing — are gap years the new path?

It’s hard to know what to do after high school. We’re often pushed to make huge life decisions at the young age of 17 or 18. We’re told to go to college or get a job, and to start “adulting.” But how often are we encouraged to pause and reflect on some really important questions: […]

Setting a Trajectory for Impact

For Kristen Lee, applying to Global Citizen Year was an early step towards forging an authentic, meaningful path. Kristen grew up in North Carolina in an area with a renowned university and high-performing public schools. She grew up in an environment with pressures to succeed academically, and attend a competitive college. Kristen often felt like […]

Just the most incredible feeling in the world

Siera Sadowski (United States | Ecuador ’19) was featured by her school, the University of Rochester. Read the original post here.   Siera Sadowski ’23 says reading and writing are among her passions. Growing up, she pursued them in the face of numerous challenges.   Her family relied on food stamps and went through periods […]

I Took a Gap Year Before Beginning College. Here’s Why You Should, Too.

I thought there was only one option after high school: college. I felt like I would be a failure if I didn’t go straight to school, or at least, that’s the feeling that had been instilled in me.   I spent my first 18 years building up my academic profile to get into a prestigious […]

Why I’m taking a gap year and daring to fail (and why you should too)

Written by Sarah Montross When I tell people I’m going to Ecuador on a gap year next year before college, I get mixed reactions. Older people tend to respond with “I wish I had done that” or “I didn’t know something like this was an option when I was younger.” While kids my age tend […]

Savier Morales on the “Pros and Cons of Taking A Gap Year”

High school graduation is rapidly approaching. You’ve ordered a cap and gown, selected senior portraits and picked the date for a party. The only problem is your senior is totally burned out, with no clue what comes next. Until he finds better focus and direction, the reality of paying tens of thousands of dollars in […]

Senegal, you’ve deepened my understanding of the world I left behind

Written by Elise Liese   Senegal,   I can’t remember clearly what I imagined you to be; what stereotypes I inadvertently packed in my suitcase alongside my solar charger and all-polyester clothing and water sterilization device. Vibrant saturation of color, drums beating deep and low, sun-scalded dirt roads, lions — I’m ashamed to admit it […]

How my gap year prepared me for college

As I packed my (many) bags to head off for an eight months in Senegal, I wasn’t sure what the long term impacts of my gap year would be. I figured I would meet new people, practice new languages, eat new food, and experience new cultures, but I never thought it would so deeply affect […]

Amari Leigh Named 2018 Newman Civic Fellow

Amari Leigh has been named a 2018 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, a Boston-based non-profit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education.   The Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes and supports community-committed students who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country. The fellowship, named for Campus Compact founder Frank Newman, provides training […]