1) What did you take out of your experience?2) What did you enjoy about taking a gap year?3) Is there anything you learned at LGHS that prepared you for your experiences?I answered 1&2 together, since there’s a lot of overlap. Let me know if you have any more questions1&2) While volunteering in Asia, I’ve made countless friends from around the world. Not just farmers, but writers, artists, students, engineers, carpenters, computer technicians, and others who each absolutely loved their work. In talking to dozens of people, each brought up in completely different communities, I’ve learned that the straight-line path from high school to college to the work force isn’t necessarily the only option available. By taking some time away from school to discover the world outside of the Bay Area (by actually SEEING IT), I have figured out that there’s a lot to learn about what you want to do with yourself once you’re out of high school.3) Among the teachers I’ve met at LGHS and Evergreen Valley High before that, Mr. Homa is (by far) the most eccentric one I’ve ever met. He made us rethink our assumptions about the impact of politics, tradition, education, and human nature on people around the world and constantly encouraged us to challenge and question the lessons he taught. During senior year, I got frustrated with Mr. Homa’s teaching style from time to time. However, after spending a significant amount of time abroad, I now realize the enormous worth of his lessons. I’m grateful for the open-mindedness he brought to the classroom, as well as the support and encouragement I received from all of my teachers at LGHS.