(via kiat)
Walt Whitman inspires me everyday.I was meditating the other day, and I stumbled upon this most intriguing thought. The thought that our own spirits are trapped in the confines of society, imprisoned in our homes, and schools, and work. Of course, the value of education and a strong work ethic should be placed in the highest pedestal, however, when have we ever the chance to just breathe and sip away at life?
Winter break is what my school calls our Christmas vacation. However, for me, it is no break at all; it's actually rather contradictory. I've been trapped at home, completing homework assignments and studying and managing my time to the most minute increments. It's rather depressing, now that I think about it. Why pile on hefty amounts of work when it's a break, a disconnect from the stresses of school already omnipresent?
When you are at your deathbed (whenever it may be, but let's pray it's far far ahead in the future), are you going to wish that you went to work more? Or stayed after school more? Or are you going to wish that you saw more of the world, and its beautiful peoples? I feel as if we are rarely given the time to feel the wind in our hair and peace in our soul. Noted, many would say that such an activity (or not) is best reserved for the long summer days. But, I for one, reflect back on my high school summers as a time crammed with SAT questions, review classes, seminars, internships, volunteer activities. There's absolutely nothing wrong with any of them, in fact, I believe they contain opportunities to expand horizons. However, this frenzy is never-ending.
The best part of a summer between senior year and university is the state of nothingness. There is no expectation nor agenda. It should free-flowing and vibrant, a special slice of time where you could really find yourself and develop into the person you've always wanted to be.
But imagine if you had a whole year reserved to yourself. In the British school system, the idea of a "gap year" spread far and wide. I find it very interesting because in America, school is the only thing that's ever really important. To take a year off is so...thrilling and devilish, like it's something we're really not supposed to do. Yet that's the time, amidst all that angst, when we can expose ourselves to the world.
Of course, I don't think I'm going to participate in the gap year trend (I probably won't even take a year off in the middle of college), however, I know for certain that I am going to be studying abroad. It is my hope that amidst all the schoolwork and assignments, I'm going to save time to explore my surroundings and lose the rigid concept of time while doing it.
