I took a Gap year, how did school change for me?

I disproved the myth that taking a year off school will bend you out of academic shape.

All it took was too much time:

• introspecting
• working a customer service job
• in solitude
• obsessing over AI & Health
• reading & writing
• working out

If you’ve seen any of my content over the past year, then you know that although school was paused, learning was not.

I produced:

• 175+ blogs
• a book
• a hackathon W
• videos
• and more.

My First Week Back in School

This week was, I’d say, the greatest week of my life.

My life has come full circle.

Back to the predominant identity with my cognitive ability and potential, this time coupled with the power & confidence from a strong physical stature.

The coupling of the two is an amazing thing, but more relevantly the Gap Year seemingly catapulted me light years ahead of where I would’ve been if I had conformed to the idea of everything must be learned in school.

I now have a reference point of what those my age have learned & experienced, and here are my takeaways.

Schooling does not equal Education.

After interacting with people who are majoring in the fields that I have recreationally studied and searched, I can confidently say:

Self-Studying is a highly efficient way in garnering applicable knowledge and interest in a field.

I’ve discussed circadian rhythm, blue light, Neurodivergency, and dopamine with Neuroscience majors to no avail.

Those in the major have learned from the bottom up, whereas I learned from the top down.

The gap year seemingly acted as a means of reverse engineering from a solution/application to the cellular + first principle problem and system.

Educational institutions seemingly start from the basis of the field and work towards solutions/applications/systemic functions.

It is immensely difficult to remain in love with a field that you haven’t internalized the importance of.

It is incredibly easy to also think you’re an expert when you truly just know one side.

THERE IS NO PASSION! THERE IS NO VISION!

When you are removed or deprived of something that you have had in your possession or been a part of for the entirety of your conscious life, you (at least I did) garner an immense appreciation for how much easier life is when there is outwardly imposed structure.

Many of my current peers have never garnered this appreciation and passion for learning, for it has always been forced upon them.

There have been numerous occurrences in one week where I had to walk out of class and go to the bathroom to do pushups and breathe because the lesson, discussing topics I have been passionate about with professionals, and placing metrics on my knowledge and understanding, was too exciting for me to handle.

Sitting down and learning is energizing to me, it is truly a cheat code that I would not have been granted if I didn’t choose & withstand a gap year.

The Opportunities are Endless

During a Gap year, you have to do everything on your own, for there is no institutional help. Now?

Now, I have advisors, counselors, career centers, tutors, research assistants, internship advisors, professors, researchers, Directors, and more who are willing to help.

Not only is it [on paper] their job to help, but I have a burning desire to acquire all that is available and aligned with my ambitions.

I am seeking means to fulfill my goals; I am not seeking a path to mitigate the process of pursuing a goal (high paying for the sake of).