The COVID-19 pandemic hit during the spring semester of my junior year at Texas A&M. We don’t have to relive all that trauma, but you could say the university experience had undoubtedly changed. When I got to the fall semester of 2020, and classes were still online, I figured it was time for a change. I submitted my application to graduate a semester early and got a job at the Christy Sports in Dillon, Colorado slinging skis and ski bumming.
The fact is, I would never have made a decision to take a gap year (gap 6 months) if COVID never happened out of FOMO and being scared to do something different than what is deemed as the “normal” trajectory of college directly into a corporate job. I’m not saying that I am thankful for the global pandemic, but I would be remiss not to appreciate the importance of that choice.
I love to ski (if you couldn’t already tell). I love that it’s something my family and I do together. I love that I grew up with my dad shouting at me down a mountain to keep my tips up. I love chairlift laughs and chugs and camaraderie with random strangers. I even love a 5 am alarm to scrape snow off my car and bust ass to the mountain for first tracks. I don’t know that I would feel this way if I hadn’t taken the time off between college and my full-time job to mess around in Summit County, Colorado . Here is why I think everyone should take time for pure, unadulterated fun after graduation:
- Time
You will never have a more convenient time to take an extended break from responsibility. Like it or not, corporate America isn’t fond of gap years in the middle of your career. There is a never-ending pressure to keep moving up the corporate ladder. My hope is that sabbaticals outside of having babies become more common, but until then, get it while you can and do it while you’re young. You won’t ever get that time back. There have been countless moments in the last 3 years that I have wished for more time off. I am so thankful for those 6 months of freedom without attachment to a career, another person, or a place of residence.
- Try something new
I chose to ski because I couldn’t leave the country with the pandemic in tow, so Colorado made the most sense to me. If times were different, I would have loved to backpack for 6 months in South America. Despite skiing not being a new skill, I got the chance to immerse myself in the ski culture and develop a deep appreciation for the sport. I met former pros, skied with people who were far better than me, and saw a new direction I could choose for my life. All in all, what you do doesn’t matter; pick something exciting and go for it. Travel, be a camp counselor, be a skipper on a boat, try your hand at ranching- whatever! Just go!
- Have a blast
I wanted to work in a ski shop because I thought it would be fun. I didn’t realize I would leave with good friends, core memories, and a passion for the industry. When I started making decisions based on how good of a time I would have, I started to enjoy life much more.
- Personal reflection
People who are passionate about something are so much cooler than people who don’t care. You become more interesting when you give a shit. I began to put this together through talking to people in the shop. I cherished the conversation and shared enthusiasm at the prospect of fresh tracks on snow and the giddy excitement of new gear. Curating the best experience before someone skinned up a mountain or hit the resort showed me the rewarding nature of personal connection and inspired my relentless pursuit of being outdoors. The experience allotted me time to prioritize myself, created a renewed focus, and showed me something I could never live without. I have now collected a strong group of friends who share the same passion, and I can honestly say that I have never had a bad day skiing with them or by myself. Take the time, do the gap year.
Expedition 9 to 5 
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