Program Reviews

I had truly the best experience on Thinking Beyond Borders Global Gap year program. From the very first day I had support from the program leaders and the other students. TBB prioritizes making deep connections so my program leaders and the other students were both my friends as well as mentors. Thinking Beyond Borders focuses on critical thinking during seminar as well as in our field work and our homestays. I was constantly reflecting throughout my time which forced me to grow as a person intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally. Now heading off to college I feel more prepared than ever and I know I have learned valuable things I will always hold onto.

If you are looking for a gap year program with global travel, cultural connection, new experiences, and amazing leaders, TBB is the perfect program for you! I cannot stress enough how amazing this program is. When I was looking for a gap year program, I wanted something that would challenge me and help me grow as a traveller, student, and human. This program is different from any of the other programs that I looked at. By the end of this program you will have learned something. Throughout all of your time on the program you are learning about other cultures, yourself, art, history, and even how to cook. But this type of education is not boring, it is immersive. The experiences you have will be remembered for the rest of your life and the relationships you form with your group and leaders will last just as long. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking for the most amazing gap year on earth!

I cannot imagine growing more over six months. This gap year program allowed me to broaden my perspective, learn new languages, immerse myself in new cultures, make lifelong friendships, and learn new academic subjects. I was challenged emotionally, socially, and academically while receiving support from the other students on the program and my two leaders. We lived in Guatemala, Ghana, and Thailand for six weeks each, and in every country I was able to learn about myself through observing a different culture. I would highly recommend this program to anybody interested in learning about international development or their role in the world. You will see a variety of different cultures and be taught about how each one functions, which will allow you to learn more about yourself.

I initially didn't want to take my gap year with a program at all. I'd convinced myself it was hypocritical to try "connecting with other cultures" while being surrounded by a group of white, affluent kids. I thought I was better off confronting my privilege and doing service on my own, rather than paying–in and of itself, a privilege– to learn about it. I WAS SO WRONG. After deciding with my parents that traveling with a group was the safest option, I chose TBB and I am so glad.
TBB was the only program that was asking the real questions. Is global development helping or hurting? Who's definition of "development" are we using anyway? TBB challenged me in so many ways (many of them ways I didn't even know I needed) and I am so much stronger for having done it. If you want a raw, emotional program that's going to challenge you to think critically, TBB is it. I met passionate people that pushed me to innovate for seven months straight. I am so lucky to have done this program and, if you're lucky enough to be considering it: GO. I promise you will not regret it.

I initially didn't want to take my gap year with a program at all. I'd convinced myself it was hypocritical to try "connecting with other cultures" while being surrounded by a group of white, affluent kids. I thought I was better off confronting my privilege and doing service on my own, rather than paying–in and of itself, a privilege– to learn about it. I WAS SO WRONG. After deciding with my parents that traveling with a group was the safest option, I chose TBB and I am so glad.
TBB was the only program that was asking the real questions. Is global development helping or hurting? Who's definition of "development" are we using anyway? TBB challenged me in so many ways (many of them ways I didn't even know I needed) and I am so much stronger for having done it. If you want a raw, emotional program that's going to challenge you to think critically, TBB is it. I met passionate people that pushed me to innovate for seven months straight. I am so lucky to have done this program and, if you're lucky enough to be considering it: GO. I promise you will not regret it.

Thinking Beyond Borders was an incredible experience for me, and I've grown so much as a result of it. I did the global gap year program, which means I spent 6 months abroad in countries all around the world, including Guatemala, Panama, Thailand, Cambodia, Ghana, and Morocco. We spent 7 weeks in Guatemala, Thailand, and Ghana, and focused on one specific topic in each of these "core" countries to try to gain a better understanding of what development is, and looks like. We studied sustainable agriculture, education, and public health, respectively. In these 3 core countries, we stayed with host families so that we were as immersed into the culture as possible. And it wasn't always easy; I think all of us wanted to go home at some point or another (and one of us even did), but we had developed such a great community within Thinking Beyond Borders that we were able to push through to the very end, and it was honestly really sad to see everyone go.
I would recommend Thinking Beyond Borders to any high school graduate who wants to take a year off between high school and college, and has a desire to explore the world more, as well as mature as a student, friend, and mentor.

My gap experience with Thinking Beyond Borders was the best three months of my life, which is still impacting me years later. The conversations, experiences, and thoughts I was exposed to during my time in Latin America was a catalyst for my personal and professional growth. My experience made me more confident, gave me a second family in another country (who I visited and stayed with again upon returning to Guatemala this past summer), provided me lifelong friends and mentors, and introduced me to people who were also curious about similar issues and wanted to ask difficult questions. All my preconceived notions were challenged and my personal philosophy changed on the trip, which has molded me into the person I am today, a person I am proud to be.

If you want to truly learn about the world and yourself and you are willing to put in hard work (because it is hard work), then go on this gap experience. If you want to sit in a circle talking with inspiring people from all walks of life and have the most impactful conversations of your life applying concepts you learn in the classroom and the field, then go. If you see the value in learning from all types of people and situations, then go. You will not regret it and it will be the best decision you ever make. My gap semester encouraged me to embrace my individuality and accept myself for who I am and what I enjoy.

Thinking Beyond Borders is such a unique program, in that they create an inclusive learning space for all students. I recently took a gap year with TBB and was blown away by their attentiveness to our needs, which made me feel so much more comfortable and trusting. I had so many amazing experiences from being apart of my host sister's quinceanera to exploring a cave in Guatemala to watching the sun set in the Sahara Desert. Looking back, I made so many friends that I feel confident will last for years to come. I was given the opportunity to really push myself out of my comfort zone and for that, I am just to thankful for Thinking Beyond Borders!! If you're considering taking a gap year, look into Thinking Beyond Borders! You won't regret it!

The most important part of my TBB experience was a culturally valuable, understanding, immersive experience. I matured beyond my expectations during my time with TBB because the Program Leaders ensured we stayed away from insensitively taking advantage of our homestays and overall experience. I had more fun in those 3 months than I could have imagined while learning and immersing myself via education and work. Everyone starts at different levels of language, cultural understanding, and group dynamics, but everyone rapidly reaches the same competency in these areas. I’m beyond happy I chose TBB in favor of a program that focused more on fun and taking advantage of the beauties and riches host nations have to offer. Gap year students looking to prepare for college, TBB is for you.

Hi! I was a member of the 2018-19 cohort on the TBB Global Gap Gear Program. It is hard to even start to put into words the overall experience of TBB. If you want to dig deep into the depths of yourself, your identity, and your place in this world, then this might just be the perfect program for you, as it was for me. There is something about traveling constantly, in places where you won't see any other tourists, learn from locals, create incredible family bonds with those who welcome you into their houses/families, and all without technology!! When I decided to go on a gap year, I knew I needed space from my life back home, from our culture and society. I needed space to be able to GROW! and expand. I was yearning for a break from sitting at a desk, and that being the extent of my learning in classes. I wanted to go out, to explore, and to be free/encouraged to do so. Thinking Beyond Borders sets you up for incredible opportunities that you yourself are responsible for making happen. Want to plan a trip to the beach with the whole group? Ok, sure, go find a hostel and let's get it organized. Coming super late to seminar because you started having a conversations about defining poverty with a local policeman and he wanted to get coffee and keep talking? Sure, no problem! Be sure to ask him about what got him there. It's these types of spontaneous moments of learning, growth, expansion, and perspective shifting that fosters such unique experiences. My journey couldn't have been possible without my AMAZING leaders and friends. This trip was exactly what I was looking for:
-traveling in foreign places
-living with local families
-learning their language
-independent/ plenty of alone time
-intellectual stimulation (seminars/language lessons/local speakers all throughout each week)
-so many good books!!!
-plenty of time exploring outdoors, hiking, swimming, etc
-a curriculum specifically made to learn more about yourself
-no phone/personal computers
-supports vegetarians!!

I could talk about this program forever. I had one of the most trans-formative times of my life, and I give most of that credit to TBB, for even getting me there, for stretching me in all different ways, and for being an incredible support system the whole way through.