LISA GEBIEN:

What are you planning on doing next year during your gap year?

I am a creating a bucket list of things I want to do during my gap year. So far, some of the items on my list include becoming a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), travelling to Paris, catching up on my reading list, skiing as much as possible, and visiting friends at their respective colleges. However, I will mainly be working and interning with a local hospice.

What caused or inspired you to take a gap year?

I was offered the opportunity to take a gap year and then join the University of Chicago’s class of 2021 (U of C). Even though I initially planned to enroll in college this coming fall, the U of C has always been my first choice, so I began to research gap years. After speaking with several students who had taken gap years, I decided I could greatly benefit from one.

What do you hope to get out of your gap year?

I intend to use next year as a time to rest and reenergize before college. I am not quite sure what I will learn, but the unknown is alluring. I especially hope to gain more perspective before going off to college.

What do you plan on studying during your time at the University of Chicago?

I plan to major in Biological Chemistry and minor in History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Science and Medicine.

JACK MAHON:

What do you plan on doing next year during your pursuit of an alternate plan?

I am enlisted in the Marine Corps. I am set to report to recruit training this Summer.

What caused or inspired you to pursue this plan after graduating high school?

I have seen the positive changes experienced by Marines and have been deeply inspired by it. My junior year was when I was first given the chance to truly interact with Marines at a local recruitment station. It was a powerful experience and I soon began to plan for an enlistment in the Marines.

What do you hope to get out of your years as a Marine?

One reason I decided to enlist in the Marine Corps was to find a path in life. Also, I am looking to not only benefit from the financial and educational benefits from the Marine Corps but also from the important qualities such as discipline that I know will come out of the experience.

Will you be starting college in 2017?  If so, where and what will you be studying?

I will be taking college classes through military programs. My education will probably not be complete during military service, but I plan to finish it after my time in the military.

BARB SODOS:

What do you plan on doing next year during your pursuit of an alternate plan?

I will be drafting to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for two years of service.

What caused or inspired you to pursue this plan after graduating high school?

Most of my life I’ve known that I wanted to go to the Israeli Army.  Every [Israeli] citizen at the age of 18 drafts to the army in order to protect and serve the country. I am moving to Israel permanently and I feel that if my friends, family and the rest of the country have to go to the army, so do I.

What do you hope to get out of your years serving in the Israel Defense Forces?

I hope to gain leadership abilities, learn many life lessons, as well as experience in a field that I might be interested to go into one day.

Do you plan on going to college after your years of service?

I plan to go to college after I finish my two years of service. If I decide to sign on more time with the army, then they will send me to get a degree in a specific field that they want me to go into.