The Good Life Gap Semester in Maine

My gap semester at Seguinland gave me so many new experiences and perspectives, and was an incredibly worthwhile way to spend my fall. It fostered my curiosity about the world around me, broadened my exposure to art and media, and gave me opportunities to try new things that I wouldn't have otherwise (including outdoor adventures and a variety of day trips to the local area with activities ranging from touring an oyster farm to having a hawk land on my arm to making apple cider).

One of the things that sticks out to me most about my time at Seguinland is the community of people I was surrounded by and the connections I made with them. Living together, learning together, and adventuring together really did forge bonds among us and created a unique and interconnected ecosystem of people who I felt excited to be around and learn from. My peers inspired me in a number of ways, but I think the biggest thing was how joyous they made each daily experience.

Another of the most memorable parts of my fall experience was the beautiful natural landscape we were in and the many opportunities we had to explore it. Seguinland gave me more of an appreciation for the magic and necessity of nature, and also helped me feel more confident exploring the world on my own, which I think is a very valuable takeaway that will stick with me and keep improving my life long after leaving Seguinland.

My time at Seguinland is something that I treasure and find heartwarming to look back on. I recommend the program to anyone who wants to take a step back, gain some perspective, and re-center themselves and their priorities before entering the next phase of their life.

Seguinland Institute is a great gap semester program for anyone who is interested in nature and exploring big questions about life! It almost felt like a nature retreat mixed with philosophy, English, and art classes. My favorite part of the program was the mindfulness aspect - doing yoga in a treehouse surrounded by nature is truly magical! It’s a great program for anyone looking to take a break from the daily pressures of technology and life in general and take time to figure out what a “good life” looks like to you.

Describing Seguinland to someone who’s never been is comparable to describing neuroscience; incredibly difficult. The real truth is that you don’t know until you are able to come and experience this incredible program for yourself. But if I had to try, I’d describe the community you build above all else. Sure, the instructors are good, great even, but the community you cultivate with your fellow peers is one of a kind. I’m not sure how I got to lucky to meet such wonderful people, but Seguinland was truly the environment that fostered these friendships. By emphasizing the importance of intentional community and connection with your fellow humans, it allowed me to reach beyond myself and build friendships that I have no doubt will last a lifetime. And for that I am forever grateful and will always give that aspect a 10/10 rating. I’ve found my forever friends that see right to the heart of me.

When I picked out a gap year program, I had one primary goal: avoid burnout. So I perused the programs available and narrowed them down until I found one that spoke to me. I love the East coast, and I love nature, so Maine just made sense. I went in ready for ten weeks of frolicking in the forest, which I got, but I left with a little more than that. I left with a whole lot of awesome, and I mean AWE-some memories, the kinds of memories that I’ll keep remembering maybe forever. I left with a new appreciation for nature and healthy living, and dare I say, a renewed respect for education. And at the risk of being a massive cheese-ball, I left with some really great friends. Obviously, your experience isn’t going to be like mine. You’ll probably do some of the same stuff, but why spoil it? Have your own experience, make your own memories, and leave your own online review. Go get ‘em, tiger!

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Seguinland is a truly magical place, harboring the kindest, most vibrant community in a true haven of natural beauty.

It was such a great joy to spend the fall '24 semester living on the Back River, supported so thoughtfully by the amazing staff of Seguinland and a wonderful group of dedicated, engaged, and compassionate peers. The community was a hallmark of the Seguinland experience-- together we made a one-of-a-kind bond that I am so grateful I got the chance to experience in my lifetime.

The fluid experimental learning experiences crafted at Seguinland brought joy and wonder back into my academic life and artistic passions. Overall, Seguinland has completely changed my life, bringing so much light and curiosity with it. I could never hope to have found a more compassionate, open, and loving group of people to enter this new stage of life with than the community Seguinland fostered.

I could not recommend this program highly enough to anyone interested in community-building, the outdoors, and the pursuit of awe and wonder in small kindnesses and the great forests and waters of Maine.

To say the Seguinland institute is a special place is an understatement. This place is truly one an unparalleled experience that cannot be replicated. At Seguinland, the forces of creativity, friendship, exploration, and nature meet to create an unforgettable experience. All thanks to the incredible staff who are truly dedicated to making the best possible experience for every student. The staff are uniquely passionate about what they do and facilitate a genuine and strong community. The experimental academics were thought provoking, engaging, had lots of amazing guest speakers, and real world learning experiences. I am so thankful that I chose to come to seguinland as it was an incredible experience I won’t be forgetting.

Over a year after my program at Seguinland ended, it’s still rare for a day to pass that I don’t think about it. It was, undoubtedly, the best choice I could’ve made for where to spend my gap year.

Starting with the housing, I fell in love with my cottage. Despite being one of the smaller ones it felt like there was always enough space to have guests or to find a place to be alone for a bit.

The activities were always engaging, even as somebody with pretty bad ADHD. We covered plenty of ground in my program, both figuratively and literally. There’s a great blend of physical activity, meditation, and literary studies, as well as plenty of opportunities for creative expression.

The most important and profound aspect of it all, however, was the community, and I cannot praise the staff enough for their part in shaping that community. If I had met my entire cohort through a high school class I don’t know for sure if I would be friends with any of them, but thanks to the ways a community is built and encouraged at Seguinland, I consider myself friends with everyone in our group of 20. To this day, we still have monthly zoom calls and many of us talk to each other even more often, with even a couple relationships that started during our program still going strong.

If you are considering going to Seguinland even slightly, I cannot recommend it enough.

Everyone’s mere participation in the program at Seguinland demonstrated their buy-in. With this foundation set, I felt free to dive as deep into the programming as I wished. The three courses felt accessible but fulfilling, and the more I put in, the more I got out.

As much as I enjoyed the programming itself, I especially appreciated the ample free time we were given to enjoy a slower pace of life in a beautiful place with people whose perspectives ranged widely but whose values were shared. Every argument was for the sake of heaven; many moments feel still too precious to share.

The greatest gift Seguinland gave me — to paraphrase a passage from Philip’s course — was allowing me the time and space to dwell in my own mystery and in the mystery of others.

Regarding the quotidian:
- The food was delicious (when we followed Katie’s instructions)
- I don’t think I got any “better” at yoga, but it was a treat to start each day with an hour of mindfulness under Ida’s expert instruction
- The cottages are cozy. It took some time, but eventually we figured out how to care for our cottage together, and we achieved a peaceful coexistence
- The frequent day trips helped break up the weeks, and the weekly sauna plunges satisfyingly marked their closes

In the end, I felt like I’d lived through one vision of the Good Life. Though it is up to the participant what they choose to take from the program, if you feel called to it, you probably instinctively understand its potential impact – and you also know that there is no substitute for experience!