Elon Gap Semester Program gives me the opportunity to learn in a completely new and innovative way

Prompt: Why do you want to participate in the Elon Gap Semester Program? What contributions do you think you can make to the group and the program? What do you hope to learn from the experience?

The Elon Gap Semester Program gives me the opportunity to learn in a completely new and innovative way, a type of learning I have never been exposed to before. By working in a hands on way to better the conjunctive communities that make our country what it is, the Gap Semester program gives me the ability to grow as a person while helping the communities around me to grow. I am always looking for challenging new experiences that have the ability to make me a stronger person. I have always been passionate about service project based learning, and started this journey in the eighth grade, when I went on my first mission trip with Appalachian Service Project. A Methodist-affiliated organization, Appalachian Service Project takes groups of high school students to the rural Appalachian Mountains to rebuild and repair the homes of the poor. I learned so much from that experience; most importantly, the importance to give back. The pure kindness that the residents gave you made you want to give them as much as you possibly could in return. I hope to continue this pattern of giving back to less fortunate members of the community, and hope the Elon Gap Semester Program can help me fulfill that goal. I have experience in service projects and possess a love for the immersive experience it provides, which are qualities I can contribute to the group and the program. I also possess a positivity that makes people feel warm, which would be beneficial to the morale of the group and the program.

I have never been given the chance to travel around the country in the capacity that the Gap Semester program offers. There is so much opportunity for improving the communities that we visit. As well as visiting Costa Rica, there is also so much opportunity for the immersion of the new cultures that are offered there. Getting the opportunity to connect with people in what seems like an entirely different world is a rare opportunity that I don't want to pass up. This program offers exposure to different areas of the country and allows me to help the less fortunate in an entirely new way. Through this experience, I hope to gain knowledge that will help me become successful in the years to follow this program

Excellent work Lauren! I would not change any part of this essay because it answers the prompt in a clear manner and presents your various traits and abilities in relation to your potential to succeed and serve the community during the gap year. It is short but informative and highlights the important points of your other volunteer activities which places a spotlight on the contributions you can make as you participate in the gap year. If you have any other relevant experiences, you should be sure to mention it in the same manner in order to further highlight your passions and how you will definitely be an asset during the gap year. I congratulate you on a job well done. You have definitely come a long way since the first paper you submitted for review here :-)