My Gap Year Was Over 10 Years Ago
Angedith Poggi 
This post is about why I took a year off between my undergraduate and graduate education.
About me
My name is Angedith Poggi, I’m a first-generation Latina professional and an educational consultant helping nontraditional and first-generation college students achieve their academic and professional goals.
Why did I do a gap year?
My gap year was over ten years ago (2011-12) after earning a BS in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico. I decided to move to the US mainland to improve my English language skills. Although Puerto Rico is a US territory, only 6.4% of families speak English at home.
Since I was in elementary school, I wanted to become a doctor to help patients with chronic diseases (I was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome at the age of 13). During my gap year in the Washington, DC metro area, I volunteered for international nonprofit organizations. Although I visited and attended seminars in medical schools to get familiar with the academic programs, I developed a keen interest in project management and leadership. After meeting with mentors, recruiters, and a lot of consideration, I understood that I was not interested in a medical degree for the right reasons. Moreover, I understood that I would still be able to help chronically-ill individuals with a degree in public health. In 2012, I got accepted into the University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health. After graduation, I landed a fellowship position with one of the National Institutes of Health, which was the first step of my professional career.
Also, another reason why I considered taking a gap year is that I had volunteered abroad during the summer of 2010 while I was still in college. I spent 8 weeks in Kyiv, Ukraine, thanks to AIESEC (a global platform for young people to develop their leadership potential through international internships and volunteer opportunities). I organized and provided training about leadership, communication, time management, team management, values, and culture. In addition to facilitating workshops for school-age children, I volunteered in a summer camp with hundreds of kids. It was indeed a valuable experience.
What about you?
Are you considering taking a break between high school and college, or college and grad school? I always encourage everyone to clearly understand their academic and professional goals before committing to an academic program.
If you would like to discuss your challenges as a student or as a professional, do not hesitate to contact me. I offer 1:1 sessions to guide you through academic or professional challenges.
Book a 1:1 session here: A Call with Angie (angedithpoggi.com)
3, 5, 7, 10 1:1 sessions here: Sesiones-con-Angie (angedithpoggi.com)
Categories: : english, estudiantes