One Year, Lifelong Lessons

I joined the gap year program after high school, hoping to explore something new — and I got way more than I imagined. From studying Mandarin to interning at a local nonprofit, every part of my year was eye-opening. Living in China made me more independent, adaptable, and curious about the world. It was the kind of experience that changes how you see everything, including yourself. The cultural exchange with my host family made it even more meaningful. GAC was all there from 0-100 and the team was truly supportive.