Gap Year

I started with tutoring and developed a course on note-taking that (hopefully) was useful for K12 kids. I’m quite proud that the course reached over 600 students through zoom.

I learned contemporary dance, salvaging my passion for dance that was almost gone. I love contemporary dance to this day and would travel long distances to attend dance classes and festivals. It taught me appreciation of the world and showed me the possibility of living a passion-driven life.

Gap year gave me a chance to break habits—‘chunking’ actions that my 18 years of life routined around. Studying in anticipation of tests or requirements, exercising for the ‘ideal’ body shape, dancing for the sake of showing persistence, finding internships for my CV, etc…those were the main focuses of my high school times. But when there is no timetable, every decision made throughout the day is a conscious choice. I realised that what I want is a mindful life, one where every single action or choice is deliberate and therefore one I won’t regret.

I wanted to know which parts of myself labels from my peers and parents; which parts of myself authentic to me. I still don’t know if there is an answer.