Fall/Winter 2010 - Pingry School

Gap Years Offer Graduates
New Perspectives on Life
“What a difference a year makes” is a phrase that could easily be
spoken by several members of the Class of 2009 who chose to pursue
gap years—a year off between graduating from Pingry and entering
college this past fall. Christina Vanech ’09, Emma Carver ’09, and
Maddy Popkin ’09 shared their experiences with The Pingry Review
and explained how their gap years better prepared them for college.
Following the demands of high
school, Ms. Carver was not in a
rush to start college and felt that a
gap year not only presented once-ina-lifetime
opportunities that could
be pursued without deadlines or
schedules, but also gave her a
chance to learn more about herself
and explore possible college majors
and career paths.
“I knew Pingry had
prepared me well for
college, but taking a
gap year gave me a
chance to take a break
and learn in a different
way. I arrived at
Cornell University
refreshed and
ready to learn.”
Emma Carver ’09
Emma Carver ’09 and Christina Vanech ’09 with excited South African students who are holding their
new books. Ms. Carver and Ms. Vanech operated a small book drive with help from their families,
members of the Pingry community and Christ the King Church, and other individuals in New Jersey.
Christina Vanech ’09 took a gap
year to learn on her own terms and
experience life outside a structured
environment. Her decision to take
the year off was made easier thanks
to a teaching assistant opportunity in
South Africa, a country she had visited
several times during high school
in collaboration with the Global
Literacy Project (GLP). “That sounded
like an incredible experience,
because I was eager to expand on the
hands-on work I had done in South
Africa in the past. I simply figured,
if I have this chance, why shouldn’t
I take it” she says.
With GLP’s assistance, she and
Emma Carver ’09 stayed in South
Africa for nearly four months, volunteering
in two schools; they were
enthusiastic about volunteering
because they knew the schools needed
extra help. While in South Africa,
Ms. Vanech also set up a library and
library system in one of the schools,
and she thoroughly enjoyed being
immersed in and learning about
South Africa’s culture and history, as
well as spending time with inspiring
students. “The experience reminded
me of the constant need for compassion
and empathy,” she says.
Now that she is at Carleton College,
she feels more confident and clearheaded
and has a renewed sense
of priorities. “As a bonus, I now
know that I very much enjoyed my
teaching experience, and education
is a definite career option,” Ms.
Vanech says.
“By teaching in South Africa, I was
constantly challenged,” Ms. Carver
says, referring to her work as a
teacher’s assistant, a librarian, and a
teacher with as many as 45 students.
“While I had learned a lot about
the schools during previous trips
to South Africa, Christina and I
actually became part of the school.
We were no longer visitors.”
In addition to spending time in
South Africa, Ms. Carver backpacked
in Europe with Ms. Vanech
and Becca Hamm Conard ’09. While
visiting Greece, Italy, Portugal,
Spain, France, Germany, the
Czech Republic, Holland, Belgium,
Scotland, Ireland, and England, they
met people from around the world
and visited museums and other sites.
“It was really interesting to feel like
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fall/winter 2010