Welcome to the official blog site for FSU’s Gap Year Program!
Check out the posts below to learn more about our students and their experiences!
FSU’s Gap Year Program allowed newly accepted students to defer their university acceptance for twelve months to pursue a personal or professional interest outside of a traditional, classroom setting.
This program has been sunset and no longer has any active students. These archives are from the cohorts from before the program was sunset.
Latest Blog Posts
A New Experience
Hi everyone! Today I started my first day at the Alpaca farm. I have been trying new experiences every week and so far this might be my favorite one. The work mostly consists of feeding, walking, brushing the Alpacas, and taking care of the farm. I wake up at around 6:30 am so I can…
Advice for New Students
For new students planning a gap year, I would recommend first planning your locations and making sure they are approved by FSU ahead of time. I personally ran into a lot of problems because of this. All the information required to fill out can be tedious, but just remember it is necessary as all this…
Arts and Crafts
As silly as it sounds arts and crafts and is one of the artistic/ creative things that has helped me to make sense of my time in the Dominican Republic. Because the organization I am working with here in Samaná: Volunteer Adventure, is a children’s school, in my time here I have had to make…
New Roommates
During my gap year, I’ve lived in dorm-style rooms ranging from 3 to 12 people per room. I was fortunate enough to have grown up having my own bedroom, so sharing this space for an extended period of time was new. I had lived with other people at summer camp, but that was only for…
What I’ve learned from living with roommates
During my gap year, I’ve lived in dorm-style rooms ranging from 3 to 12 people per room. I was fortunate enough to have grown up having my own bedroom, so sharing this space for an extended period of time was new. Having roommates has given me the opportunity to experience living in a communal space,…
Meaningful Art
Two days ago was Holocaust remembrance day in Israel. I stood in the heart of Tel Aviv as everything and everyone stopped in silence for a one-minute-long siren. During those 60 seconds, my mind filtered through horrific images of the concentration camps I visited in Poland this past November. I also reflected on my recent…
A Year in Germany
Hi, I’m Mica and I’m from Miami. I just graduated high school and now I’m taking a gap year. I’ve been living in Munich, Germany for 6 weeks. I’m excited to share my experiences about this adventure, starting with what led me towards this path. Today, I describe myself as an average 19-year-old, with highs,…
Bravery, Kindness, Resilience
Bravery, kindness, and resilience are key qualities to have, especially during a gap year. To have the courage to go to a new place, with new people, is what allows one to have unique, forming experiences. Of course, it can be nerve-wracking, but I was always excited as to what will come next. I’ve become…
My New Best Friend
One person I have met on my journey that has impacted my life is Sawyier. Sawyier is someone I met on my New Zealand and Australia trip at the beginning of my gap year as he was a member of our group of 12. Our friendship began in the bustling Haka Lodge Hostel in Auckland,…
Bravery, Kindness, and Failure
I packed my things and left for the airport to begin my 28 hour travel journey from Florida to New Zealand where I would start my new temporary life. I believe I have been brave on my gap year with the choice I made to travel across the world alone to connect with people I…
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