Student Spotlight: Helene Rowland takes Latin America

Student Spotlight: Helene Rowland takes Latin America

Helene Rowland, Senior at MHS, has decided to take a gap year before spending her next 4 years at Middlebury College. Although in December she was thrilled to be accepted to her first choice college Early Decision, recently she decided to travel Central and Southern America. Due to her change in decision about her plans next year, Madison Dodger Online decided to interview her about the reasons behind her decision.

MDO: Where are you going on your gap year?

HR: I’m going somewhere in Central or South America, but I’m not sure yet. Right now I’m looking at Costa Rica, but I plan on going to multiple countries!

MDO: What are you going to do during your gap year? What are you looking forward to?

HR: I want to do something associated with the environment and sustainability. One option for my gap year is to do organic farming through WWOOFing. Another option for what to do is working in a school. Through talking with other people who’ve taken gap years before I’ve gotten many ideas for what I should do next year. I talked to people such as Catherine Turvey, who actually gave me the idea of the school. I also want to improve my Spanish while I’m there so that there could be a possibility of starting a third language at Middlebury the next year.

MDO: What was your reasoning behind your decision?

HR: I thought of the idea because my best friend took one and encouraged it, but now I’m at the point where I think everyone should take one. After 12 years of school, I think a year “break” is beneficial, but also the opportunity to travel and have experiences in the real world is valuable for anyone, and more difficult to do at other times in life. It’s also a great opportunity to figure out more at what I want to do in college. I’m really excited to be taking a gap year!!!