Thomas Sullivan
Contributing Writer
Taryn Hibbing, senior, will take a gap year next year to teach English in a Nepalese village.
Hibbing is working with Kerry Arens at the Chelsea Center, which provides the scholarship and oversees the program for graduating seniors.
“The gap year scholarship is really an opportunity for kids to learn through travel and volunteerism and experience,” Arens said.
“For Taryn specifically, I believe that this experience will be beneficial for Taryn to help her learn teaching skills. She wants to be an environmental scientist, but the teaching part is what she hopes to also leverage. Like, how do we teach people how to care for the earth and how to do a better job,” Arens said.
“I’m most excited for the actual trip to Nepal,” Hibbing said. “I want to see the country and to see what it’s all about. The scholarship covers the gap year, and part of the agreement when I applied is that I have to volunteer for this organization called No Limits Nepal for three months. So I will be in the village where they’re stationed for three months, and I will teach at their school.”
Hibbing hopes that this experience will be a fun trip, while also being a chance to really apply the teaching skills she has learned in the Teaching and Learning Cohort class taught by Dr. Arens.
“I wanted to figure out what I wanted to do before I went into college. I’m kind of a perfectionist, so I wanted to try to make sure I know what I want to do before I get there so I can just do that when I get there,” Hibbing said.
About her plans after she arrives, Hibbing said, “I’ll probably just work for the most part, save up some money for college, and then, I’m planning on a backpacking trip. I’m not sure where yet, but then I’ll probably go to Mizzou to study environmental science.”
Hibbing mentioned that she would consider returning to Nepal after she receives her degree. It all depends on how her experience during her gap year goes. Hibbing is one of two students to ever take this scholarship and trip.
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