Originally from Massachusetts, Allie has been living in Honduras now for a few months and volunteers for United Planet at a rehabilitation and day-care center for disabled and children and adults. In addition to the great volunteer work she does on a daily basis, Allie has had the opportunity to visit some great Honduras sites, including the Copán ruins, below:
Allie with fellow volunteers at the Copán Ruins in Honduras!
Even with all her adventures and volunteer work, Allie has been is still keeping up to date with the news here in the United States. On her blog, Allie posted an article from the Boston Globe which features the advantages of taking a eye-opening gap year after graduating high school. In addition to maturity and a new-found perspective on the world, the article mentions how the refreshing year leads to more motivated and successful college students.In addition to posting a link to the article on her blog, Allie gave her own thumbs-up to the gap year experience:
“Another positive opinion about gap years! Now, speaking from experience, I can say that this is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Some people might argue that you need to keep up your education momentum – but jumping straight from 12 years of school to another 4 or 8, couldn’t all that momentum make you tip over?
We all need a mind opening break from school, before beginning the education that really matters. A lot of parents worry that their children might lose sight of their true goals or just decide to travel for the rest of their lives instead of go to school. But right now, I have never felt more motivated to educate myself and study something that I know I care about.
So take a gap year, or encourage your friends or children or brothers or sisters to take one. It could be the most amazing experience of a lifetime!”
Interested in learning more about United Planet’s gap year programs around the world? Look through our long-term programs here. Want to check out all of Allie’s great pictures and stories? Keep up with Allie’s personal blog here! And finally, don’t forget to read the full Boston Globe article for yourself on the Boston Globe website!
