The Young Leader

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The Advantages of Taking a Gap Year before College

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Preparing for your graduation day is always an exciting time. As you order your cap and  own and choose a memorable quote to be published beside your yearbook picture, you may also find yourself wondering what life will be like after high school.

Perhaps you’ve already picked out a few colleges that you’d like to attend. You may even have a pretty good idea about what you want to study. However, if you’re feeling exhausted from pulling all-nighters just to study for an exam or complete the last batch of your homework assignments, you may want to consider taking a gap year before diving into college coursework.

What is a gap year?

When you choose to take a gap year, you’re essentially giving yourself a year or semester off before entering into college. You can use this time to earn extra cash for tuition payments, participate in study abroad programs or internships, and even volunteer for a cause you feel passionate about. Aside from helping you feel more prepared for college, a gap year is also useful for gaining valuable life skills and experiences.

Many high school and college students take a shorter gap year alternative during the summer – think of it as a gap summer – that tends to save them money and also avoid the classroom time lost when taking a full gap year.

How can I benefit from taking a gap year?

If you’re feeling burned out from coursework and want to break free from the classroom for a while, then a gap year could be just what you need. In addition to refreshing your mind, a gap year can help you determine what direction you want to take in life. As you explore different opportunities and expose yourself to the outside world, you’ll learn more about yourself and discover what field sparks your interest for future studies.

How can I make the most of my gap year?

There are many different ways to use your gap year wisely. If you’re a giving person that loves to help others in need, you can serve as an active volunteer in your community. Another great way to spend this time off would be to apply for an internship in a field of your choice. You’ll get to experience what it feels like to be in the working world firsthand, and you’ll gain valuable skills that can be applied in your daily life.

Finally, if you’re more of an adventurous type, you may want to try learning a new language through a study-abroad program.

Contributed by Nedda Grady

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From Mountain Biking to Rock Climbing Out of Your Comfort Zone

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Extreme sports are the perfect activity for any adventurous teen. Not only do they help keep you healthy, stress free, and confident, but as long as you stay safe and take precautions when participating, they can also help you see the world, bring you closer to nature, and allow you to join a community of other adventurous people from all walks of life. Here are four of the many extreme sports you should consider trying at least once.

Mountain Biking
Mountain biking allows you to travel farther and discover more than you ever could on foot. Trails, beaches, streams, mountains, and pretty much any other terrain you can imagine, a mountain bike can take you there while allowing your inner explorer to run (or bike) free.

Surfing
Surfing has a reputation of being a relaxing sunny day activity, when in reality it’s anything but. Hawaii, California, and Australia aren’t the only places you’ll find surfers, look on almost any coast, warm or cold, rain or shine, and surfers will be swimming out from the comforts of land and into the ocean surf. Surfing can be a grueling activity, pitting you against the constantly changing waves of the ocean as you balance and react to every height and directional change of the water. However, if you can master your body and board while gliding on top of the salty ocean waves, it’s a feeling like no other, and definitely worth the hard path to serenity.

Snowkiting
Snowkiting is a relatively new extreme sport, having started in the second half of the 20th century, and only really taking off in the 21st. A combination of kiteboarding and snowboarding/skiing, snowkiting is a snow-based sport that allows you to ski or snowboard along almost any snow-covered terrain, attached and propelled along by a specially-built kite flying in the air. While traditional downhill winter sports only allow you to travel in one direction, snowkiting allows you to go downhill, uphill, or along the ground with no hill at all. Some people may stay inside on a windy winter’s day, but snowkiting allows you to enjoy the weather as you surf and glide along the glistening snow-covered land. This is a sport that you can brag about without end – so long as you can master it!

Rock Climbing
The risks in rock climbing can be high, which is why it’s always recommended (like with all the other sports listed), to learn and follow all the rules and techniques before embarking out on any climbing adventures. That being said, there are several different types of rock climbing you can try, from roped indoor walls and bouldering, to more extreme climbing on ice and mountains. The satisfaction and confidence you’ll gain from going out and climbing whatever goal you set for yourself can equal or exceed the breathtaking views you’ll have, as you stand high atop recently climbed landscapes, looking out at the world from a point only a select few ever see. And you’ll be doing it before you even hit 20!

Contributed by Alex Anderson

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6 Reasons Being a Nerd When You Get to College is a Great Idea

6 Reasons Being a Nerd When You Get to College is a Great Idea

Ever felt intimidated by college?

Don’t worry, Santa brought snacks!

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Attending a good college is often a grand, towering goal for after you finish high school. Some parents obsess over it, others not so much. Why else would students choose to grind out SAT prep, AP classes, and extracurriculars?  And if you’re currently going through all this or will be soon, I wish you the best of luck.

But what will you actually do once you’re at college?

Nerds often do quite well in college (just like in high school). Here’s why:

  • Nerds picked the right school and major
  • Nerds already figured out college
  • Nerds actually enjoy their classes
  • Nerds stick by each other
  • Nerds initiate cool projects
  • Nerds balance work and play even better

 

Nerds picked the right school and major

Picking the right school and major is a big decision. Luckily for them, most nerds prepare well and do their research. They also pick the right one for them.

Being skilled at online research, spreadsheets, and statistics really pays off here.

Nerds already figured out college

Nerds learn from others that came before them.

There are countless books written on how to get into college, but how about doing exceptionally well once you get there?
Nerds actually enjoy their classes

Have you ever had to wake up for an early morning class? Was it boring?

Imagine for just a second, that there is someone who’d be genuinely excited and interested in attending that class. There are all kinds of nerds for every subject, so there is someone out there that loves attending that class.

Yeah…really.

Nerds stick by each other

If you’re a nerd, then you’re in luck! There is likely a group of smart students that are equally passionate about your interest or obsession.

Academic and professional clubs can provide much-needed support:

There also is such a thing as belly dancing nerds:

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Nerds initiate cool projects

Have you ever fist bumped a robot that you built specifically for that reason?

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Whatever your specialized interest might be, college gives nerds more resources and opportunities to pursue it.

The free food, giant cookies, and snack santa from earlier doesn’t hurt, either.

Nerds balance work and play even better

It may not be such a surprise now that nerds have a ton of fun while being successful, and that it gets even better in college.

By day, you can be a Russian literature, computer, or belly dancing (maybe even all three!) nerd. At night, however, you know how to have a really good time with everyone without ever mentioning your fistbump robot.

Boom!

Contributed by Nick Fochtman

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6 Reasons Being a Nerd in High School is the Greatest

Where do you fit in at high school?
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Are you a prep, jock, freak, outcast, geek, or nerd?

While taking my younger cousin, Jonathan, out for ice cream, we found ourselves asking these same questions. It was a pleasant summer night, and as we talked in my convertible, a cool flurry of wind rushed by us. Jonathan gladly discussed how much he enjoyed school.

But why is Jonathan having such a great time?

Well…because he’s a nerd. And I say this as a sincere compliment. Some of the best times I had in high school were as a nerd.

Drawing on both of our experiences, we present you with 6 Reasons Being a Nerd in High School is the Greatest:

  •  Nerds dress up
  •  Nerd sports are good-natured and fun
  •  Nerds are smart
  •  Nerds get into good schools and jobs
  •  Nerds are now mainstream (read: Hot)
  • Nerds work-hard, play-hard

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Nerds dress up

Outside of Halloween, how often do you get to ride a Yoshi as Princess Peach?

Back in high school, my friends and I dressed up as Super Smash Brothers characters for a senior skit. It was awesome.

Nerd sports are good-natured and fun

Ever heard of Ultimate Frisbee? How about GLOWTIMATE frisbee?!

My friends introduced me to this variation of the good-natured and carefree sport, Ultimate Frisbee. You can (barely) make out our group in the photo below:

Nerds are smart

People (often nerds) argue about what a “nerd” actually is. Despite the many views, most agree that nerds have to be smart.

By harnessing the great social power that is Urban Dictionary, I’ll define a nerd this way:

Nerds are smart and gain pleasure from their highly-specialized interest.

Nerds get into good schools and jobs

As a soon-to-be college grad, I can assure you this is often true.

Almost all of my friends that dressed up senior year got into very competitive schools. Since nerds are intelligent and are often specialized in something marketable, many succeed well after high school.

Nerds are now mainstream (read: Hot)

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This extends far beyond “Nerd-themed” parties in school. For whatever reason, (thank you, pop culture!) some types of nerds are now seen as hot. Seriously.

Nerds work-hard, play-hard

Who knew that nerds could have so much fun and be successful?

The “work-hard, play-hard” motto describes nerds well. But what really is the heart of nerd culture is this:

Nerds passionately enjoy their specialized work (work = play).

Definitely take a moment to chew this one over, and you’ll see why being a nerd in high school (and beyond) really is the greatest.

Contributed by Nick Fochtman

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