LeapYear India: Naropa University's Gap Year

It's so easy to pull on the lines fed to us, getting caught in what the world expects, and so, so hard to go against the known and create our own paths. My time at LeapNow really supported me and challenged me to find my own way, to lead instead of only follow. Traveling in a group with 9 other students through Nepal and Northern India really challenged me to work within the group dynamic, yet still be responsible for myself. It showed me how little I know of this world, and of myself.

Leapyear is by no means easy, or a vacation. If it were, it wouldn't be worth the mention or the time. I really learned that there is no time to waste faking my way through this limited amount of time I have here. I've come to really appreciate being real with myself, my peers, and those I most care about. That means rocking the boat and going through the yucky parts, but it's so worth the connections and journeys that really matter.

Another great aspect of Leapyear is the comprehensive learning that takes place. It was through cooking and working the land with my peers that I learned about work ethic and the impact of hard, honest work (even when it's the last thing I want to do). Learning doesn't just take place in the classroom. Learning takes place by getting your hands messy and by having the courage to explore what you never knew was possible.

Living in close quarters with 30 other students gave me a lot to work with, in terms of interpersonal dynamics. It really challenged me to work through conflict and build trust.

There really is so much more...all I can say is it's absolutely worth it. You will get out of it as much as you put in. If you want a real, life changing opportunity to learn in a really deep and creative way, do Leapyear.

What an incredible program! I became interested in LEAPYEAR because of the travel aspect, along with the fact that you can get college credit for such an amazing year. And it delivered, but the year was so much more than that as well. LEAPYEAR equipped me to begin relating to the world as an adult, and helped me begin the journey of self-awareness and growth.

I went to India for my group travel time, and I've recently been back with LEAPYEAR's second year program. Its not a country that everyone will enjoy, but it is one of my favorite places on earth. The people are friendly and welcoming, there's always so much chai, and the culture is so different from my own that there was always learning taking place! LEAPYEAR did an amazing job setting up a variety of experiences so I got to volunteer, take classes, experience cultural events, and see the tourist sights. My leaders were amazing too, giving us enough guidance and structure to feel secure in, while at the same time giving us enough responsibility to gain confidence traveling internationally.

For my solo internship I went to Brazil to study Portuguese and work with at-risk young women. It was amazing to become part of a small local community on the coast of Brazil and feel like I was really making a difference, not to mention the great beaches and seafood!

I would highly recommend the program to anyone who is looking for something more or something different out of their college experience. It has changed the way I think about education and the world, and I never want to go back.

LEAPYEAR is an incredibly full program. Looking back on my time there, every day contained so much that it's hard to believe it was less than a year. On campus during the retreats, days were filled with workshops, cooking, and working on the land, and we were always pushed to bring awareness and intention to what we were doing. During my three months in India, the incredible outward experience of being in a place of such extremes (poverty and opulence often nestled side by side) was fuel for my journey of self-discovery. I remember specific moments of sitting next to Tibetan monks in prayer and debate, or looking up at the crystal night sky from the peaks of the Himalayas that are etched onto my memory forever. It's been nearly a decade since I started my journey, and I can see the branching paths of what could have been, and I realize that no alternate present that I can see is as good as the one LEAPYEAR has provided me.