Dynamy https://dynamy.org/ The Best Gap Year Choice Fri, 09 Apr 2021 14:18:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://dynamy.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/D_red-150x150.jpg Dynamy https://dynamy.org/ 32 32 My Gap Year Semester – Learning to Live Independently https://dynamy.org/my-gap-year-semester-learning-to-live-independently/ https://dynamy.org/my-gap-year-semester-learning-to-live-independently/#respond Fri, 09 Apr 2021 14:18:13 +0000 https://dynamy.org/?p=251963 During my first semester at the Dynamy Internship Program, I decided to work at a place called ACDC. ACDC was an acronym for Automotive Career Development Center. It acted as a place where certified technicians could learn more about the growing industry of hybrid and electric vehicles. It was also a certified shop where customers […]

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During my first semester at the Dynamy Internship Program, I decided to work at a place called ACDC. ACDC was an acronym for Automotive Career Development Center. It acted as a place where certified technicians could learn more about the growing industry of hybrid and electric vehicles. It was also a certified shop where customers could bring their hybrid or electric cars to be repaired. And that is what we did while I was there. I was working with two other Dynamy interns, who both happened to be Jack and my name being Jackson, sometimes it was very confusing when our boss tried to get one of our attention. While we were there, we took part in a week-long class that is usually only for skilled technicians and would have cost us around $5,000, but we were able to take it for free. During the week, we learned the ins and outs of some of the hybrid and electric cars he had on site. In total, he had about 20 cars and he showed us 8 different ones throughout the week. Once the class was over and for the rest of the time, we would work on customer cars, clean the shop, build storage sheds, and help our boss edit a book that he had been working on since 2017. The book was going to be sold to schools for automotive classes so kids could learn all about hybrid and electric cars. I had a really fun time working at ACDC, learning lots of things that I never would have thought to even think about, made some awesome friends, and also some good memories. 

I also had a really great time living in an apartment with other people. Going from being to an only child at home to living in an apartment with 5 other dudes is a big change. But I think that I handled that change really well. Before we all moved in I got to meet everyone and see how well we got along and that made deciding who I wanted to house with really easy. Probably the biggest challenge I was facing going into the program was money management. Each week we were given a $125 stipend and would have to manage how we spent it until we got our next check. I decided that my main focus was to spend the money on groceries and gas and if I had extra, save it so I could have extra money next week in case I wanted to get something special. Each time before I went grocery shopping I would look through the fridge and make a list of what I needed and then would look up the prices so I would have a rough idea of how much I was going to spend on that trip. Only about once a week would I order some food to the house, because I knew that would use up my set amount of money very quick. Gas wasn’t that bad to worry about because I would carpool with my co-workers. We would switch off when one of us would take everyone to work a different week, so I didn’t use a lot of gas. A couple of times I did get homesick so I would call up my parents and let them know how things were going and I also would have them send me pictures of my dogs. I have had a really great first semester at Dynamy and I can’t wait to see what the second semester holds for the future. 

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Why a Gap Year Was Right for Me https://dynamy.org/why-a-gap-year-was-right-for-me/ https://dynamy.org/why-a-gap-year-was-right-for-me/#respond Thu, 25 Mar 2021 18:08:59 +0000 https://dynamy.org/?p=251941 My name is Micah Weis, and I live in 67 (the name of our house). I think one reason why I decided to join Dynamy is because I really did not want to go straight from 4 years of high school to 4 more years of harder school. I needed a break. When I found […]

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My name is Micah Weis, and I live in 67 (the name of our house). I think one reason why I decided to join Dynamy is because I really did not want to go straight from 4 years of high school to 4 more years of harder school. I needed a break.

When I found out about Dynamy and what they offer; from social living skills, living on your own, working in an adult scenario,having real bosses and hours, I was sold. I think the most appealing to me was working and living on my own.

Dynamy offers tons of different jobs. For me, I really enjoy working on cars or using my hands. I found 3B Auto and learned so much about cars.  The second semester I tagged along at 290 Auto Body with Justin to learn the business side of owning and running a shop. In just 5 months I got a huge head start on what I want to do when I’m older. I don’t think I would get that experience anywhere else.

Another great part about Dynamy is living on your own. Because of COVID, the Dynamy staff has a much tighter grip on us that I’m sure previous years didn’t, but still allows us to do what we want. Living on your own is not the easiest thing. Adapting to living with people other than your parents is hard. Doing the dishes, laundry, and keeping your room clean are all things that need to get done in order to keep a clean and livable space.

Now that I had some time to think about it, COVID was also a prime reason for me to take a gap year. Zoom and online classes are just not for me and this offers a great second option. I would definitely recommend a gap year to those who are thinking about it. Taking a year off and going to a new place to learn skills you NEED for college doesn’t sound bad at all. I’ve been to sleep-away camp and never really had an issue living on my own, but re-learning the information is super important, and you even learn the second time around.

I think adjusting to city life was definitely hard at first and maybe even a culture shock coming from a suburb of Chicago. I’m lucky enough to have a car which makes things easier but also hard. Parking is harder, and driving, in general, is harder before you get used to the road design. I’ve never been to Boston but I’ve always wanted to go and that’s on my list of things to experience before the semester ends and I return home.

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What Advice Would You Have Given Yourself Last Year at This Time? https://dynamy.org/what-advice-would-you-have-given-yourself-last-year-at-this-time/ https://dynamy.org/what-advice-would-you-have-given-yourself-last-year-at-this-time/#respond Wed, 17 Mar 2021 16:05:18 +0000 https://dynamy.org/?p=251929 If I was able to go back in time, even to just a year ago, I’d have plenty of advice to give my past self. To start with the obvious, my 18-year-old self could never imagine what it would be like to live during a global pandemic. Attempting to look past the difficulties everyone’s had […]

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If I was able to go back in time, even to just a year ago, I’d have plenty of advice to give my past self. To start with the obvious, my 18-year-old self could never imagine what it would be like to live during a global pandemic. Attempting to look past the difficulties everyone’s had to face would be impossible, but at the same time, how could I ever brace myself for something like that even with knowing what’s ahead? There are select words to describe the effect this pandemic has had on the entire world, and you don’t need to hear them from me. I don’t think there’s anything someone could tell themselves that would truly brace them to witness it. Even if I was unable to prepare myself for hardships I’d never thought I, or anyone around me would have to face, I would still have a lot to say to an earlier version of myself.

I’d make sure to remind myself to be thankful and to remember that nothing is promised. To complain less and enjoy more. To attempt to master patience. To fix your posture. Focus on yourself and don’t worry so much. Study for your math tests. Explore more art and music. Quit procrastinating so much. Be more open minded. Cry it out when you need to. Take more risks. Say more of what you mean and don’t feel sorry about it. Shave your head already! Close your eyes and breathe. You’ll be okay. Thinking back to when I was about 8 or 9, I’d compare going through each life challenge like learning how to float on my back.

For most of my childhood, my family owned a house with a large swimming pool behind it. Thinking about all the summer memories with that pool makes me emotional. I think about all the sliced watermelon and popsicles I ate with my tiny legs dangling in the water. My mom with her big sunhat, reading in the shade and looking up to watch my brothers and I shoving each other around and blasting ourselves with big, clunky water guns. I’m always brought back to one summer when my uncle was visiting from Canada, and while we were in the pool, I told him I didn’t know how to float on my back yet. 

It can be scary at first, and it was for me, especially learning when I was little. But you’ll find at any age that the key is to trust yourself completely. I definitely needed help at first, so he’d hold me up from my back for the first few tries. My head would sink under and my limbs tried to fight the water. The initial reaction comes from fear, and it’s what was physically keeping me from accomplishing my goal to float. The body is saying, “We haven’t done that before and it’s really scary!” But in reality, I know there is nothing to fear. My uncle is right here, teaching me. I followed his advice to calm down and he insisted that the water could carry me. I’d need to keep my head straight and relax. I closed my eyes, took deep breaths, and tried to let the water carry my weight. Each time, I’d get a little better and stay on the surface a little longer. We practiced all afternoon, and after countless attempts, I was able to float by myself without any help. 8 year old me, missing my two front teeth, smiled ear to ear that day. Even though it’s a small, far moment, thinking back to it helps me through almost any challenge I face today. Even if it means failing and ending up with water up my nose a few times, or needing some extra help, there is really nothing for me to fear. I’m reminded to close my eyes and relax, take a deep breath, and learn to trust myself to float. 

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My Gap Year at Dynamy – The Right Choice for Me https://dynamy.org/my-gap-year-at-dynamy-the-right-choice-for-me/ https://dynamy.org/my-gap-year-at-dynamy-the-right-choice-for-me/#respond Wed, 10 Mar 2021 15:14:41 +0000 https://dynamy.org/?p=251895 At the end of my senior year, I felt certain I knew what my near future looked like. I was excited to start college in the fall of 2020. I had a very successful high school experience. I had a good GPA, participated in numerous extracurriculars, and formed close friendships with some amazing people. However, […]

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At the end of my senior year, I felt certain I knew what my near future looked like. I was excited to start college in the fall of 2020. I had a very successful high school experience. I had a good GPA, participated in numerous extracurriculars, and formed close friendships with some amazing people. However, as summer progressed, I started to feel less and less sure that I could handle the transition to college. There were some important life skills that I knew I lacked, and I worried that they would lead to my downfall in a college setting. I have trouble with organization, time management, budgeting, and self-discipline. I also didn’t have a lot of experience cooking for myself or transporting myself to where I needed to go. In short, I realized I did not yet have the self-reliance to succeed in college. When I told my mom this, she recommended that I check out the Dynamy program.

I think one of the most important lessons I have learned throughout my time here is that taking a gap year does not mean that I have failed or that I am inferior to my peers attending college. People can take a gap year for a multitude of reasons, and I believe it actually takes a lot of emotional maturity and self-awareness to decide to do so.

I would strongly suggest taking a gap year to students who are thinking about it. Dynamy is a perfect blend of internship/programming and down time. It allows students to explore an internship in a field they are interested in, which not only offers a simulated work experience but also an idea of what jobs you might pursue in the future. Working seven hours a day has really given me a productive structure for my day. I have had two amazing internships; I worked with the YMCA and I am currently working with Seven Hills Foundation. For my first internship, I delivered meals to the children of families who were hit hard by the pandemic. For my second and current internship, I have been helping work with older people who have dementia. This work has been incredibly rewarding, and was something I would  never have gotten to experience had I gone straight to college. Succeeding in the workplace has also helped me gain a lot of confidence in my own abilities. I still have a lot to learn, but the routine of getting up and completing a work day leaves me feeling accomplished at the end of the day.

Dynamy also houses you in apartments with around 15 or so other students from around ages 17-23. Living on your own with other people will definitely help me when I have roommates in college. I have learned how to set good boundaries with people in my living space, how to keep my apartment clean and orderly, and also how to balance social and self care time with work hours. All of these factors have helped me feel ready to take on college in the fall.

Doubling back on my earlier point, one of my favorite things about Dynamy is that each student is here for their own individual reasons. Some people are in college and accepted; some are applying; others have yet to apply; some people don’t want to go to college at all. Similarly, some people are here to gain work experience while others want to learn how to live independently. Taking a gap year at Dynamy has probably been one of the best decisions of my life, and I would encourage anyone who is considering a gap year to further explore what Dynamy has to offer.

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A Time of Growth – My Gap Year Experience https://dynamy.org/a-time-of-growth-my-gap-year-experience/ https://dynamy.org/a-time-of-growth-my-gap-year-experience/#respond Tue, 23 Feb 2021 15:22:33 +0000 https://dynamy.org/?p=251887 My first semester at Dynamy was full of trials and growth. My first major struggle was my mental health. I no longer had the direct support of my family to help me get through rough patches, and I had to learn how to manage my depression by myself. This process was not an instantaneous one. […]

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My first semester at Dynamy was full of trials and growth.

My first major struggle was my mental health. I no longer had the direct support of my family to help me get through rough patches, and I had to learn how to manage my depression by myself. This process was not an instantaneous one. It took many sleepless nights, late-night phone calls, and gray days to teach myself to push through it. However, I was not alone in my journey, the Dynamy staff helped me immensely! They offered me support and helped me push through and go to work on the days where I didn’t think I could get out of bed. I will be forever grateful for that.

Another struggle of mine is money management. Long story short, I worked at an amazing retail store, bought a lot of cool things, then realized I only get $120 a week and had blown through my money from my summer job. Now I am way more conscious of the money I have as well as how much I am spending and what I am spending it on. I make a grocery list that accounts for most of the food and items I’ll need for the week. I try to purchase groceries as early in the week as I can so that I don’t end up going to the store a bunch of times. Then if there is something non-essential that I want I figure out how much I can spare and then wait until the next week to make sure I want it. 

Some advice I would have given myself last semester is this; first, believe that you can push through. Losing hope, and shutting down is never going to help the way you feel. Second, always try to keep busy when you are at work. You will have more fun and the day will go by faster. Third, don’t be afraid to try new things and embrace new opportunities. Some of the most interesting growth only showed itself when I returned home for Thanksgiving break. I was suddenly no longer afraid to speak to strangers on the phone. I was more comfortable in a professional setting. I didn’t feel like I had to rely on others for my happiness. I decided how I was going to operate instead of waiting for someone to tell me what to do.

After seeing all the change in myself and learning what I have, I would tell my future self is this; don’t forget to make time to keep your space clean, don’t eat too much junk food, and always remember you have people to support you. I am excited to see what I learn and experience this semester. Things are already going more smoothly than when I first came here. I want to learn to budget better, cook more, be a professional, manage myself, and create my life.  Dynamy has made me a stronger and more confident person; professionally and personally. I would also like to add a huge thank you to the Dynamy staff and my wonderful roommates.

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How My Internship Changed Me Forever & for the Better https://dynamy.org/how-my-internship-changed-me-forever-for-the-better/ https://dynamy.org/how-my-internship-changed-me-forever-for-the-better/#respond Thu, 21 Jan 2021 22:26:22 +0000 https://dynamy.org/?p=251822 It’s incredible how one internship can change the way we look at the world and most importantly ourselves. I went into my internship at ACE thinking I would teach the kids something, but they actually taught me more…. This fall semester I interned at ACE also known as African Community Education. I was part of […]

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It’s incredible how one internship can change the way we look at the world and most importantly ourselves. I went into my internship at ACE thinking I would teach the kids something, but they actually taught me more….

This fall semester I interned at ACE also known as African Community Education. I was part of the after school zoom tutoring, I helped tutor African refugee children. On Saturdays I helped with the program they had going on by playing and hanging out with the kids and even handed out food for them to bring home and give to their families. I had so much fun and enjoyed being a mentor to kids from the ages of 8-18.  For the after school program I was their go-to for History of any kind (but they knew if math came up to run… unless it was 5th grade or below). It was such an amazing opportunity and I am forever grateful. 

The biggest skill the kids taught me was PATIENCE, and that is something that I will use for the rest of my life. The field I am going into will be elementary education (I am hoping to teach 3rd graders) and I believe this skill will come in handy. I had to learn to be patient with the speed the kids learned at. The way they communicate was challenging and it took time for me to learn and I would get frustrated, but over time with help from my internship sponsors, and the other teachers I learned that patience is what I needed to be able to help the kids learn better. That’s the ultimate goal and focus, not me but the kid’s grades and expansion of knowledge.

I am forever grateful for what these kids have taught me and I know that my experiences will help me go far in life. They don’t even realize they gave me anything, but they gave me more than I could have ever wished or dreamed of, they gave me skills to last a lifetime. Leaving this internship is going to be difficult because I found a love for teaching kids. It feels great knowing I left an impact, it’s a dream come true.

Thank you ACE (African Community Education) for the best opportunity I have ever been given and will never forget and I’m forever grateful!

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Gaining Valuable Skills – A Gap Year Experience https://dynamy.org/gaining-valuable-skills-a-gap-year-experience/ https://dynamy.org/gaining-valuable-skills-a-gap-year-experience/#respond Thu, 07 Jan 2021 20:42:08 +0000 https://dynamy.org/?p=251647 Why I choose to take a gap year: Choosing to take a gap year was a long and thought out decision that started at the beginning of my junior year of high school after attending a local Chicago gap year fair. After considering many options, I loved the idea of professional development through an internship, […]

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Why I choose to take a gap year: Choosing to take a gap year was a long and thought out decision that started at the beginning of my junior year of high school after attending a local Chicago gap year fair. After considering many options, I loved the idea of professional development through an internship, navigating a new city and a structured living environment where I could gain significant skills to compliment my lifestyle and living habits. Many times I wasn’t sure if I was fully capable of navigating adulthood right after high school, which was one reason for my decision to take a gap year.  Another reason for wanting to take a gap year was that I wanted to know that I would be able to manage my time, and well-being, with the goal that positive habits became part of my routine.  I wanted to learn to be proactive in my experiences and not reactive.   

Learning to live independently in apartments: Moving and adapting into the apartments at Dynamy was very easy and smooth from the start. Everyone in the house is someone I get along with and/or can hang out with regularly. All of us flow very well together and contribute to a lot of different things that benefit the house as a whole. Purchasing a very high speed Wi-Fi connection for the needed bandwidth for all 14 housemates (I live in an apartment of five) was a nice little accomplishment for all of us that we bonded over together right from the start of the semester. My roommate and I have gotten along great since the day we all checked in and, while roommate issues are always inevitable, we have been fortunate enough to not have had a single problem with each other. When the semester started I feared it would be weird sleeping in the same room as someone else every night having never had to do that before, however with a mutual understanding and respect between roommates, it’s really been no problem. It’s been easy being held accountable for needed trips like groceries when you see your roommate doing the same, and vice versa.

Interviewing for an internship: I have always had a love and appreciation for cars- the visual appeal of a nice car, the mechanics, the engineering and inner workings of what makes a car run.  Given this passion I worked with my Dynamy advisor to determine various automotive based locations throughout Worcester, MA where I could interview to hopefully be hired as an intern for the semester.   During our orientation week I was prepped for my interviews at 3B Auto and ACDC (Automotive Career Development Center).  Overall my interview process was very smooth and not problematic. I’ve always been able to handle my interviews pretty well but felt energized by the experience of landing an internship at ACDC.  For my next internship I hope to re-interview at 3B Auto and continue to build on the skills I learned while at ACDC.

Living in Worcester, MA: The large amount of automotive based businesses in Worcester is my favorite part of it. Not only because it brings auto related jobs and internship opportunities, but also the culture of making and creating, and people who really care about their cars. Worcester is a town full of car enthusiasts and engineers that enjoy working hands on like I do.  I know every city is unique but I hope to be able to continue my love and passion when I return home to Chicago or any future city that I move to!

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My Internship Experience at Dynamy https://dynamy.org/my-internship-experience-at-dynamy/ https://dynamy.org/my-internship-experience-at-dynamy/#respond Fri, 18 Dec 2020 15:49:10 +0000 https://dynamy.org/?p=251612 Hi, My name is Sam and I’m finishing up my first semester at Dynamy. I chose to take a gap year because I don’t know what I want to go to college for, so I thought taking a year and moving to a different state would give me a better Idea of what I want […]

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Hi, My name is Sam and I’m finishing up my first semester at Dynamy. I chose to take a gap year because I don’t know what I want to go to college for, so I thought taking a year and moving to a different state would give me a better Idea of what I want to do as a career and what kind of college, if any, would help me get there.

I came to Dynamy because it was recommended to me by a gap year counselor and it looked like the perfect way to get hands-on experience at different real businesses to see which career path I thought would be the best fit for me. Being from Vermont, I was worried about adjusting to living in an urban setting, but after the adventure challenge when I finally moved in I realized that it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. The apartment is large enough for all 6 of us and it is always clean and organized.

I was given 3 internship interviews at 3 very different places in Worcester, and I ended up choosing to work at 3B Auto because I was really interested in working at a shop and getting hands-on experience with the tools and specialized equipment that I wouldn’t normally have access to. Even in just the first month, my job taught me so much about what it means to be a good mechanic, and how to go about solving complex issues in a non-destructive way so that even when I haven’t done some specific tasks, I can adapt other solutions from similar issues to fix my problem.

I have also learned a lot about the importance of teamwork. Specifically, I’ve learned how to act as a useful team member to the other mechanics for advanced, multi-person repairs. A typical day for me starts at 9 and I am expected to do basic maintenance to customer vehicles like oil changes, headlight bulbs and tires. When more advanced projects come into the shop, I work with one of the full-time Mechanics who will walk me through the process and show me how to use the relevant tools so when similar projects come in I can do them either completely independently or work with another Dynamy intern to complete the task. A great example of this is when I had to fix a broken tire pressure monitoring system. I was shown how to use the proprietary tools to work with that part, and now when I encounter that issue I can use the tools to troubleshoot the issue and then devise a solution without being directly told how to solve the problem. This is a really important part of my learning because instead of following a step by step guide, I can come up with my own solution based off of the information I collected and then implement those changes to the vehicle without compromising the safety of the driver or occupants and not decreasing the lifespan of the product. All in all, it’s been a great experience so far and I can’t wait to see what the rest of my time at Dynamy holds. 

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My Personal Growth at Dynamy https://dynamy.org/my-personal-growth-at-dynamy/ https://dynamy.org/my-personal-growth-at-dynamy/#respond Thu, 10 Dec 2020 20:41:49 +0000 http://dynamyiy.flywheelsites.com/?p=251605 When I found out that I got into Berklee College of Music, I was so thrilled that I was going to be attending my dream school for the next four years of my life. But once the excitement wore off, reality started to set in, and so did my anxieties about the future. All throughout […]

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When I found out that I got into Berklee College of Music, I was so thrilled that I was going to be attending my dream school for the next four years of my life. But once the excitement wore off, reality started to set in, and so did my anxieties about the future. All throughout high school I had struggled with organization and time management, which often made it difficult to achieve the goals I set for myself. I was also anxious about not having enough of an idea of what I wanted to do within music, and the last thing I wanted to do was waste four years and a college tuition on searching for a major. College used to feel so far in the distant future, but there I was, a second semester senior, not yet ready to go out into the world on my own with complete independence and no safety net. So given my feelings of uncertainty and unpreparedness, I decided the best next step for me was to take a gap year. I wanted to take time to really strengthen my weaknesses and find more direction by going out into the real world. I needed to use my time off the best I could, especially when the pandemic hit. Finding a gap year program became extremely difficult due to all of the shutdowns, and when researching the ones that were operating, that is when I discovered Dynamy.

Dynamy has everything I was looking for in a gap year program, for it has given me the ability to work as an intern at various small businesses and gain real world experience within the workforce. Dynamy has allowed me to learn how to live independently and still have support, which has allowed me to make mistakes and struggle, but still have an advisor to help me problem solve. Navigating a work environment has shown me how to communicate with my colleagues and sponsors in a professional manner. Through trial and error, I have discovered where my strengths and weaknesses lie within a workplace, which has helped me further narrow down the possibilities of what to study in college. Sharing an apartment with peers has taught me a lot about living independently, for it has given me a taste of what it is like to “adult”, and all the responsibilities that come with it. We are expected to be responsible for things such as buying and planning meals, maintaining a budget, and balancing our work and social lives, which has forced me to be self sufficient and hold myself personally accountable. Although I have had my fair share of missteps and hard times here, I have always felt supported by my advisor and the Dynamy staff, giving me the guidance I need to get myself back on track.

As my first semester at Dynamy concludes, I have seen so much growth in myself. My time management and organization skills have improved drastically, and my experiences at my internship has given me more confidence in my ability to execute and deliver my best work. I have made friends with people who come from all different walks of life and have established meaningful connections with the Dynamy staff. Coming into Dynamy, I felt so unprepared and unsure, anxious about what the future held for me in college. But after the short amount of time I have spent here, I feel more prepared than ever to create my own future.

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My Choice to Take a Gap Year https://dynamy.org/my-choice-to-take-a-gap-year/ https://dynamy.org/my-choice-to-take-a-gap-year/#respond Thu, 03 Dec 2020 15:08:31 +0000 http://dynamyiy.flywheelsites.com/?p=251573 Howdy! I suppose an introduction is in order if you are going to be reading this.  My name is Aliya Larkin and I am a Dynamy intern. I am currently working at an internship with the Worcester Business Journal which is a local newspaper.   I’ll just get right into why I am here and why […]

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Howdy! I suppose an introduction is in order if you are going to be reading this.  My name is Aliya Larkin and I am a Dynamy intern. I am currently working at an internship with the Worcester Business Journal which is a local newspaper.  

I’ll just get right into why I am here and why I chose Dynamy instead of another gap year program. Since my sophomore year in highschool I had been considering taking a year before college to work on myself. School was never my strong suit no matter how much I enjoyed learning. I constantly heard the phrase “if you just applied yourself” among other sayings that were vaguely supportive with a hint of concern. The classroom setting was difficult for me to learn in and I would have trouble connecting with the information that I was being taught. I began to consider a gap year when I was about 15 and went to my first college fair. I had been begrudgingly dragged there by my father who just wanted me to start thinking about college. Dynamy had a booth at the fair and was one of the only gap year programs there. I saw several different colleges that night but the unique nature of Dynamy had stuck in my mind. 

About a year later when it came time to really think about college I went to a gap year fair. School had continued to be a struggle for me and it was becoming clearer that the traditional college route may not be in my favor. It was here I was reintroduced to Dynamy. Many gap year programs pushed the idea of travel or a study abroad year before college. For me I knew I needed an environment where I could pull myself together and grow as a person before four more years of school. Dynamy promised that kind of environment with independent living and the ability to be an intern at places that could actually provide a hands on learning experience rather than classroom studies. So when I started applying to colleges I kept Dynamy in the back of my mind, still not wanting to admit that college wasn’t quite yet what I should be doing. When the pandemic struck and virtual school became the norm I finally accepted what I had known for three years. Learning in a classroom was difficult for me and I needed something more immersive to learn in a constructive way. I needed to experience life rather than spend my next year in a bedroom and sometimes the kitchen. I deferred my acceptance to Lesley University and hoped that my application to Dynamy would be accepted. I knew it was a risky move but I thought that even working a year and taking college classes part time would be better than a fully virtual experience if I wasn’t accepted into Dynamy. 

Luckily I was accepted or I wouldn’t be writing this right now though I suppose that’s rather obvious. In an ironic twist of fate my internship ended up being entirely virtual. I still feel that I am learning far more than I would if I had gone to college this year since I can actually leave my room. My experiences in the time I have been here have already been tremendously educational. I learned pretty quickly that eating the same food for dinner every night seems like a good idea until you realize that now you hate broccoli. Or that people don’t appreciate it when you buy a Misfits poster for your room and don’t inform them that there is now a skeleton poster in a shared bedroom which you think is pretty cool but others could live without.  As for my internship I have already learned so much as a writer. I have gotten to experience journalism personally and have already had the ability to do things I never thought I would do like interviews or writing up pieces on topics I hadn’t really given much thought to before. It has been an experience that I am considerably grateful for. I feel so lucky for finding this program and not confining myself to the traditional learning experience that didn’t work for me.  

I do not know what the future holds. It is a strange thing that we can only hope to predict unless we are comfortable with the murky unknown or perhaps too weary from the world to care. What I do know is that my time here has already taught me so many things that I will carry with me past my stay. What I know now is that I am less scared of the future. I have already learned so much more about myself and life. Dynamy was an unknown for me and I know that I am ready for the next unknown I step foot into.

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