Seguinland Institute: The Good Life Gap Year

Every senior in my high school needed to partake in an internship to graduate. After 13 stressful years of intense and rigorous education, I needed a moment to ground myself. That's exactly what Seguin helped me do. From the first moment at the airport, I was surrounded by this wonderful feeling of love and community. The friendships I made there and everything I learned Seguin has changed me and guided me into becoming the best version of myself. Seguin is a place that lives outside the modern pressures of space and time. Im forever grateful for that experience.

Among the white pines and the laughter and the biggest sky you will ever know, Seguinland lies in the heart of a world so beautifully far from the one most of us live in today. It is a place where you can let go of everything you have ever wanted to, and where that freedom is encouraged in order to make room for the new ideas you will create and discover yourself. I found a stillness inside me that I didn't realize I was missing, that felt like it was handed to me by the trees right outside my bedroom window. We woke up with the sun and fell asleep to the crickets. There was singing and tea-brewing and walking barefoot on the forest floor with our eyes closed, but above it all, there was just being. I lived fully. And I felt so incredibly loved during my 4 weeks there. It was easy to commit myself to finding The Good Life, with a family of strangers around me taking the same leaps I was, even if in vastly different ways. I made friends that I will never forget, and who walk beside me every day, whether near or far - because it was them who I opened my eyes with. Who I jumped into deep Atlantic waters with, and who know, like me, what an unforgettably real journey we began together.

Among the white pines and the laughter and the biggest sky you will ever know, Seguinland lies in the heart of a world so beautifully far from the one most of us live in today. It is a place where you can let go of everything you have been wanting to, and where that freedom is encouraged in order to make room for the new ideas you will create and discover yourself. I found a stillness inside me that I didn't realize I was missing, that felt like it was handed to me by the trees right outside my bedroom window. There was singing and tea-brewing and walking barefoot on the forest floor with our eyes closed, but above it all, there was just being. I lived fully. And I felt so incredibly loved during my 4 weeks there. It was easy to commit myself to finding The Good Life, with a family of strangers around me taking the same leaps I was, even if in vastly different ways. I made friends that I will never forget, and who walk beside me every day, whether near or far, because it was them who I opened my eyes with. Who I jumped into deep Atlantic waters with, and who know, like me, what an unforgettably real journey we began together.

I absolutely loved my time at Seguinland, and found it to be an incredibly valuable experience. My love for Seguinland can be broken down to the lessons, the surroundings, and the people.
During my gap semester I wanted to continue learning and growing, but take a break from the traditional model of classes. Classes at Seguinland can vary from day to day, but usually feature a seminar-style discussion about a text that everyone had read the night before or discussing a main theme of the day. At least once a week (and often many more times), classes would include a trip to locations around Maine. Sometimes this meant hands on agriculture work or spending time in nature, other times we visited artists' studios or attended lectures. Classes were always varied, and always encouraged us to be more curious and engaged in the topics we discussed. You do still have books to read and responses to write up, but it is all to enrich discussions and curiosity, not just busy work for a grade. I found this to be a refreshing break from college lectures, and other students in between high school and college loved reconnecting with the feeling exploration often missing in high school classes. A number of the themes we discussed have stuck with me even after leaving. Concepts like self-reliance became useful, actionable skills, and discussions about mindfulness and attention have changed how I spend my time after Seguinland for the better.
As the number of trips we took alludes to, Maine, and nature as a whole, is an important part of the program. For the first few days of staying in our cottages, I was truly in awe of how beautiful the marshes and forests were. As the program goes on, we really learned to see the woods and marshes as a part of campus, and we enjoyed finding nooks and hideaways to read or spend time outdoors with friends. Sometimes guest speakers would lead us on walks in the woods or marsh (make sure to bring water-proof boots) to get a better understanding of the ecology or philosophy of nature. This extended to camping trips in various national and state parks in Maine which were always a fun way to shake up the routine, and everyone always had an incredible time. The staff made sure that both veteran and brand new campers had a good time and were comfortable. If you're looking for where to start exploring the outdoors more, Seguinland is a great introduction. The camping trips are where many of my best memories were made, mostly because of the different ways it lets you interact with Seguinland's biggest draw, the people.
When I think about the people at Seguinland, both staff and students, it is astonishing how close we all grew over such a short period of time. The other students were wonderful, and key to the experience itself. There is of course that anxiety the first few days when you realize you'll spend the next three months with the same 20 or so people, but pretty quickly that becomes a benefit, not a negative. With a small cohort that is always eating together and doing tasks together, there really isn't the space for cliques to form or people to be socially left behind. Everyone was a part of one large group, and that meant you really got to know everyone extremely well, and there wasn't the pressure to find your group right off the bat. You find pretty quickly that while the cohorts are definitely selected with a variety of personalities and interests, all of the students are also there because they are genuine and curious people looking for something different. The staff were also wonderful. I was worried that a program like this could attract a lot of camp-counselor types or very new-age people, but everyone was very down to earth. The teachers were all highly knowledgeable and passionate about what they were teaching. They also doubled as general staff that you would eat with in evenings and go on trips with, breaking down the barrier between teacher and student. The 'student life coordinators' who handled events outside of the classroom, managing the cottages, and generally helping students get the most out of the experience were two of the most enthusiastic and good-natured people I've ever met. We were truly blessed with Matt and Elin. In addition, Katie, our food-life coordinator, was wonderful at getting people engaged in and excited about cooking. If you have never cooked before, or love to cook whenever you get the chance, Katie helps you find ways to grow and contribute to dinner in your own way. There were a number of other people in the Seguinland orbit that would come in for certain events or trips, which really gives the whole program a village community feel. The program itself is fantastic, but it really is the people that you remember best, and that make Seguinland what it is.
I really can not recommend Seguinland highly enough. If you are looking to get out of the routine of high school or college and willing to try something new, Seguinland is for you. You'll sometimes have to leave your comfort zone, but the wonderful community is always there to support you when you do. I hope you enjoy your time in Maine!

My time at Seguin land was a truly transformative and magical experience. Not only am I incredibly grateful for the time I spent there, but I have carried so much of what I learned there with me. The staff and leaders have created a space unlike anywhere I have ever been. I have never laughed so hard, learned so much, or appreciated life as much as I did during this program. While I learned so much in the classes, it did not stop there. Seguin land showed me how to celebrate the smaller moments of life and brought back so much wonder to my eyes. They were able to facilitate a community that shaped bonds so quickly and so firmly. The people I met at Seguin land and the connection that were nourished continue to be some of my most cherished. I don't know how they do it, how such a special place can exist, but it does. I can truly only describe it as magical.
At Seguinland, we would spend our mornings in Yoga class with one of the most amazing instructors I have ever had. After centering ourselves there, we would spend the rest of the morning in class. In these classes, deep conversations were held and large questions were asked (and rarely answered). After that, we would spend our afternoon incorporating what we had learned in the classroom out in the field. From going to an oyster farm and learning the ins and outs of that or canoeing around the marsh in some artistic way. After that, we would spend our evenings cooking (mostly) delicious food. By the end of the program, we had created so many amazing meals together, with the highlight being the foraged feast. The staff and faculty were so supportive and I was able to form personal relationships with all of them. Even after the program has ended I feel comfortable reaching out for life advice, help with applications, or just swinging by to say hi. I think it says a lot about the program that for our one-year reunion almost every person cleared their calendars to come back to this special place. Seguinland Institute is a one-of-a-kind place that has an incredible talent for creating meaningful experiences and relationships.