Seguinland Institute: The Good Life Gap Year Reviews

My time at Seguinland was unforgettable and filled with so much learning, laughing, and living. I have made so many great friends here who I know I will continue to talk to and hang out with for many years to come.

After coming here I now feel more confident in choosing my own "good life" not one bound by the traditional 9-5 or what other people expect me to do, but one that is completely my own. I would recommend this program to anyone, but I think its especially helpful for people who want to change things up and find their own path.

Every staff member has a genuine desire to support each student. They curate a space where every student is included and accepted no matter what. Many qualities of a typical work or school environment either don’t exist here or have been completely reformed to better support the students’ well being. Discipline is replaced with patience and forgiveness. Restrictions are replaced with a platform for self expression. Strictness is replaced with freedom and play. The program is free from phones, allowing everyone to connect with one another and reconnect with the natural world without distractions. In all of the activities, the needs of every single student are considered.

I came to Seguinland without a clear plan for what the fall would become. What I didn’t expect was how much it would ask me to slow down and pay attention—not just to people, food, and art, but to my own mind. A line by Mary Oliver stayed with me the whole term: “You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.” That felt like good advice here. Less forcing, more listening.

I’ve always lived with a busy, restless inner world. My mind moves fast, jumps ahead, imagines ten futures at once. For a long time, I treated that chaos as something to fix or quiet down. At Seguinland, I started to see it differently. The chaos didn’t disappear—but I learned to relate to it with more curiosity than judgment. Instead of fighting it, I began to notice how much of my creativity came from that same restless place. There was space to sit with my thoughts, to feel things without immediately needing to explain or organize them. Mindfulness here wasn’t formal or rigid; it showed up in long walks, quiet mornings, shared silence, hugs, and moments of friendship—and in the permission to be present even when my feelings were tangled.

One of the biggest things I learned was about friendship. Not the idealized version, but the real one—messy, uncertain, sometimes confusing. As I became more honest with myself, I also became more honest with others. Some friendships clicked instantly; others took time or changed shape along the way. As the weeks passed, the group naturally split into smaller circles, but it never felt hostile or isolating. Even when dynamics shifted, people still showed up for each other, and there was a shared sense of respect that held the community together.

Food ended up being more important to me than I expected. Cooking at Seguinland brought back my desire to host—to invite people in, spend time cooking together, and let conversations unfold around the table. The kitchen became another place where my mind could slow down. Measuring, chopping, tasting—it grounded me. Sharing meals became one of the easiest ways to connect, and it reminded me how much joy I get from caring for people in a very practical, tangible way.

Creatively, the term pushed me to try things I had never done before. I made my first short film with my friends—something I had always wanted to do but kept postponing. Working collaboratively allowed my imagination to spill outward instead of looping inward. Being surrounded by so many artists—writers, musicians, painters, filmmakers—made experimentation feel normal, even encouraged. Creativity wasn’t treated as something special or rare; it was simply how people processed the world.

Beyond Seguinland itself, I met adventurers, artists, and thinkers whose paths crossed with ours and widened my sense of possibility. And within the program, I formed friendships that feel steady and lasting—both with other students and with staff members, who were present, generous, and deeply human in the way they supported us.

The Fall Term didn’t give me a single big revelation. Instead, it gave me many small ones: how to sit with a chaotic mind without judging it, how to trust my imagination, how to be more honest in relationships, how to enjoy cooking for others again, and how to let myself like what I like without over-explaining it. That feels like something I’ll carry with me for a long time.

I absolutely loved this program! It is built around the idea of experiential learning. There is nothing like learning about community build from the people who are out there doing it, and the stories we heard will stick with me for a long time. This experience filled me with an overwhelming sense of hope. I learned how to connect with people and build a community, which are skills that have transformed my life both on the program and after. Georgetown, Maine is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been and having the opportunity to disconnect and embrace nature in such a unique environment was so special. All of this being said, my favorite part of Seguinland is the incredible people, staff and other students, who make the stunning marshland feel like home in just 3 short weeks. This program is truly so special and I cannot recommend it enough.

The May Term at Seguinland completely changed how I thought about learning. It wasn't only lectures or assignments—it was also experiential, hands-on, and deeply personal.

What struck me most was how naturally and quickly our cohort became close. I vividly remember laughing so hard my eyes watered during our "primal walk" (a tour around campus)—and this was just three hours after we'd been introduced. In that moment, all my doubts—about choosing a program in a country I'd never visited, with people I'd only met online—simply melted away.

We cooked meals together, explored Reid State Park (beautiful beaches, though admittedly a bit too cold), visited organizations across Maine, welcomed various artists, and spent evenings in deep conversation under the stars on the docks.

One of my favorite experiences was organizing The Mad Farmers Award event. We planned and presented an honor to Maine State Senator Craig Hickman, which showed me what community organizing and food justice truly look like in practice—not just in theory.

Practical notes: If you're Brazilian or international, start your visa process early. And if you feel this experience is calling to you but something is holding you back, definitely reach out to Philip—he has the brightest heart of anyone I've ever met (when you meet him, I'm sure you'll feel similarly. The rest of the staff is awesome as well).

As I inched closer to graduating High school I had no idea what I was going to do next, let alone what I was going to do with the rest of my life. I didn’t feel ready to jump right into collage, but I didn't want to float around either. This program gave me that perfect in-between space to reflect upon what it means to live a “good life” through its philosophy, writing and art courses. I can wholeheartedly say that this program made a huge positive impact on my life, and Im forever grateful I attended!

Seguinland was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. It is a place that fosters deep connections and thoughtful conversations. I made some of the closest friendships I’ve ever had at Seguinland, and felt 100% supported and uplifted by the wonderful staff. I highly recommend to anyone thinking of taking a gap year who values nature, mindfulness, and deep connection. I still think about my time there every day. I’ve never felt such a deep sense of belonging in another place/group of people. I grew so much as a person, and I’m so grateful for my time at Seguinland!

I would describe Seguinland in just a few words by saying, it's a once in a lifetime experience that you absolutely need to take. It's a gap year program that creates unlimited memories and moments. My time at Seguinland was the most incredible and meaningful experience I’ve ever had. If I could spend the rest of my life here, I would. Seguinland feels like my second home and it truly feels like my second home.

Before arriving, I was nervous that no one was going to like me for who I am but it was the opposite; I was surrounded by people who loved me for me, and I have made countless friends here. I’ve never met someone mean or unkind here.

The Seguinland Staff is beyond awesome, trust me :). I will miss Seguinland each day as time goes on, even the second I drive out off the dirt road. I will always love Seguinland and I hope future students will too.

Before this program, I had just finished my first year of college. I was left feeling empty, hopeless, and without joy. I had no actual connection with any of my peers or professors. Everything felt so transactional and fake, and I soon began to question if this was truly meant for me. During this period, I felt lifeless and had fallen into an existence of no real meaning, hidden from the world. I was so afraid to get out of my comfort zone and had become accustomed to living in such a monotonous, passionless way. I felt like I was without a soul.

As you could likely tell, deciding to go to Seguinland was not an easy choice for me, and without my Mom's guidance, I would not have made it. I am forever thankful for her urging me to go. Also, I felt deep within me that this was the environment I needed to be in. It was as if a tiny flame had reignited from within, and it only continued to grow and grow over my time there. Now then, my experience at Seguinland... It was of pure beauty, love, joy, and creation. I am constantly grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the Good Life Gap Semester. It reawakened my mind, body, and soul to the world again. There is a difference between being alive and FEELING alive!

Overall, the program focused on the importance of community, belonging, reciprocity, awe & wonder, gratitude, the natural world, play, art, and much more, and cultivates these ideas through interactive discussions, field trips, creative projects, cottage life conversations, mindfulness, food, and more. I cannot emphasize enough the significance of the ideas and thoughts explored; every discussion was so impactful, enlightening, and crucial for our existence in the world today. This program fosters young adults who will build a beautiful society for all.

This is a place of LOVING community; I can say that with utmost certainty. Never have I felt more cared for and accepted than here. The friends that I have made in this program, I believe, will last from this life into the next. I care so deeply for them, and they care so deeply for me; relationships are the key to a good life. This is something I had no clue that I was missing beforehand.

The Seguinland instructors are by far the most insightful, thoughtful, and just wise people I have had the privilege of learning from. The entire Seguinland team is so welcoming, friendly, and accommodating. The CLAs (Community Life Assistants) were so, so much fun, and they always had awesome activities planned. I swear to you, everyone here has a different, more alive twinkle in their eye!

If anyone is reading this who is unsure whether or not to do it, like I once was, trust me... DO IT! It will take courage. You will likely feel uncomfortable at first. I know that I sure did. But that is the key to the good life! To let yourself feel every emotion and experience, even the somewhat uncomfortable ones. Allow yourself the gift of traveling into the unknown.

The good life program offers a thoughtfully designed curriculum that encourages students to reflect deeply on personal values, purpose, and well-being. Through guided discussions, interdisciplinary readings, and experiential learning(visitong local workshop, preparing feast…), the program creates a supportive environment( campus is so beautiful!) where participants are able to develop greater self-awareness and critical thinking skills. The program creates a supportive and inclusive environment where individuals feel respected and empowered to explore their values and life goals. By integrating theory with real-world application, it helps me slow down, reflect deeply, and make more intentional choices about how i want to live. Overall, it is a meaningful and impactful program with lasting personal value.