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Something New

I thought to myself, “I’m going to Ecuador for 8 months.” I didn’t know why but I knew it was what I was supposed to do. Something from within me knew it was right. Something from within me knew I wasn’t ready for college. I went with my gut, something that has never failed me, and now I’m here. Living in, and loving, Ecuador.

I’ve never been so content in my life. I wake up every morning refreshed and happy. I don’t dread waking up to doing the same things over and over again. My life is different, challenging, and vivid. I love every second of it. I’m never bored and I never know what to expect. Even with all the commotion and the busyness of Quito, I’m the most relaxed I’ve been in years. I no longer dwell on the past. I don’t have time to. My brain is working harder than ever, my mind is crystal clear, and I plan to use this to my advantage.

Perhaps I came here to figure myself out or to mature – I don’t really know. I can tell you this though, every day I fail. I get lost, I forget words, and 1,000 other things, but I love every second of it. I used to be afraid to fail. In high school for example, I never tried my hardest. I think I was afraid I wouldn’t get the grade I had hoped for. So, I always aimed for something that I knew I could achieve. I do regret this. Failing isn’t always a bad thing. It shows you where to improve and what to not forget. As weird as it sounds, right now I sort of live to fail. I’m no longer afraid. In fact, I embrace it because I know in time I will no longer fail and I will succeed.

It’s a scary yet marvelous experience living in another country. I never know what the next day will hold for me. I have a memorable interaction every day. I’ve come to realize how much I enjoy interacting with people, learning a new language, and challenging myself. I am so happy I took a bridge year. It gave me a way to figure something out for myself while helping others and learning things I never would in school. I recommend this to everyone. I send my love to all my family and friends.

Daniel Schwarz

About Daniel Schwarz


Daniel spent all four years of high school running both winter and spring track. One of his greatest passions is politics, and he was President of his AP Government and Politics class. Additionally, he is a member of Future Business Leaders of America, which involves traveling to regional business conferences. He loves to cook and bake, and even holds a part time job cooking pizza and preparing food for a Farmer's Market.

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