When we told one of our closest friends that we were planning to take a gap year, we were met with a startling question: “But why?”
To us, a gap year seemed like a crucial next step in our journey to become more effective changemakers. But for our friend, it wasn’t so obvious.
That’s when we realized we needed to sit down and set our ideas in stone, to reflect on why we are taking a gap year, what we expect to get out of it, and why it means so much to us.
Here’s why we’re embracing this opportunity and what we hope to achieve.
Why a Gap Year?
First and foremost, we feel incredibly fortunate to have the support of our family and universities in this decision. We recognize that this isn’t an option for everyone, which makes us even more determined to make the most of it.
Our gap year is about taking a step forward by stepping back. By breaking free from a structured academic environment, we’re creating space to:
- Pursue our passions without the pressure of grades
- Dive deep into interests like service, math, computer science, philosophy, and finance
- Read books we’ve always wanted to explore
- Gain real-world experiences that will shape our college and professional careers
- Broaden our worldview and challenge our assumptions
Most importantly, this year will allow us to consolidate everything we’ve learned and experienced, piecing it together to see the bigger picture. We’re not just preparing for college; we’re preparing for life.
A New Chapter in Portugal
Our gap year journey begins in Portugal, offering two invaluable opportunities:
- Quality family time: We’re cherishing moments with our younger brothers, from walking them to school to exploring local parks to reading them bedtime stories. These moments are both bonding time and a chance to step into roles as mentors and young adults.
- A taste of independence: Portugal’s culture respects young adulthood, giving us the freedom to explore life more deeply. We’re learning to navigate a new culture, meet new people through new experiences, and live more independently.
From catching waves on the beautiful Portuguese coast to immersing ourselves in the vibrant local culture, this move is teaching us to be present, breaking free from old habits, and opening our minds to new roles and perspectives—perfect preparation for the exciting programs ahead.
Around the World in 365 Days
Of course, a gap year brings up some big questions:
How can we make the most of our time?
What experiences will help us achieve our personal and academic goals?
To answer these questions, we’ve lined up three transformative programs for our gap year:
1. Himalayan Odyssey with NOLS
After a 14-hour flight and a 9-hour bus ride, we’ll embark on a 40-day trek through the South Asian Himalayas. With 65-pound backpacks and no internet access, we’ll:
- Trek 75 miles, reaching altitudes of 18,000 feet
- Learn alpine safety and traverse glaciers
- Explore historic trade routes
- Reflect deeply on our goals and values
This program will push us out of our comfort zones, break old habits, and show us a completely new way of life.
2. Swiss Alps Ski Instructor Certification
For 10 weeks in the Swiss Alps, we’ll flip the script from students to teachers (and back to students). This program will help us:
- Develop relational leadership skills—balancing authority with encouragement (and safety)
- Learn the art of effective teaching
- Improve our listening and communication skills
- And yes, become better skiers!
3. South African Nonprofit Internship
The capstone of our gap year will be a 12-week internship with a human rights nonprofit in South Africa. This experience will allow us to:
- Work behind the scenes of a professional nonprofit
- Deepen our understanding of complex social challenges in a new environment
- Apply the skills and confidence gained from our previous experiences
- Immerse ourselves in new cultures on a continent we’ve never explored
This internship is the perfect culmination of our gap year expereinces and Service Academy work, allowing us to dive deep into what it means to deeply understand social challenges and work to achieve systemic change through empowerment.
This is our opportunity to grow beyond academic achievement, and to experience the rich wonders of South Africa and the professional social innovators. We will come out of this program as more educated, well-rounded, service-focused individuals with lessons and stories that will enrich our college experience.
How This Connects to Service Academy
Our gap year journey is an extension of our mission at Service Academy. Each experience will help us:
- Develop a deeper understanding of global challenges
- Gain practical skills in leadership and problem-solving
- Build a network of like-minded changemakers
- Test and refine our ideas about youth service and social impact to best apply them to our lives and careers
We’ll be applying the Service Academy Framework throughout our journey, reflecting on how each experience contributes to our growth as systems change leaders. Throughout the year, we will challenge our assumptions, broaden our perspectives, and gather insights to improve our social impact back home. Our hope is that by sharing our experiences, we can contribute to a broader dialogue about service, community engagement, and cross-cultural learning.
We are at the precipice of a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, ready to explore the passions and ideas we’ve been dreaming of for years. This is our pathway to become the people we want to be.
Join Us On This Journey
As we get ready for liftoff, we invite you to follow along. We’ll be sharing our experiences, insights, and how they’re shaping our perspectives on service and social change.
Here’s how you can stay connected:
- Subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates
- Follow us on social media for real-time insights
- Check out our blog for in-depth reflections
- Share your own experiences and ideas with us
Together, let’s reimagine what youth service can be and create more impactful ecosystems that benefit young people and communities worldwide.
As always, thank you for your continued support, and we’ll see you soon!
– Ryan & Thomas Growney
About Our Gap Year Journey
We’re Ryan and Thomas Growney, twin brothers and co-founders of Service Academy.
After graduating from St. George’s School in Rhode Island, we’ve embarked on a gap year to explore how different cultures approach problem understanding, community engagement, service, and social innovation.
Our journey will take us to various countries, including South Africa, where we’ll participate in the Tilting Futures program, and the Himalayas, where we’ll be joining the NOLS for a high-altitude mountaineering challenge. Throughout this year, we aim to challenge our assumptions, broaden our perspectives, and gather insights that will help us enhance our approach to social impact back home.
Ryan is particularly interested in scaling service initiatives to develop young leaders, while Thomas focuses on the personal connections and community belonging that service creates. By sharing our experiences, we hope to contribute to a broader dialogue about service, mentorship, community engagement, and cross-cultural learning.
We invite you to follow along with our journey, engage with our reflections, and share your own insights about service in diverse contexts.
Together, we can work towards creating more meaningful and impactful youth service ecosystems that benefit both young people and their communities.