Each of our Scholars has their own story, and it’s our pleasure to get to share one with you. After being accepted to Lund University in Sweden, Andrea decided she needed a year before college to see the world. Baret was the perfect fit. She spent her year gleaning insights, exploring her interests, and finding new reservoirs of resilience. We were lucky enough to catch up with her this summer in the wake of her Baret year, and to hear her reflections on what made this year so special.

If you find yourself inspired by this conversation, don't hesitate to start an application.

It's so great to catch up with you. You've had quite the journey! Some people think a gap year is a bold choice. What made you want to join Baret Scholars?

I was drawn to the opportunity to travel, but primarily I wanted to explore my interests. I’ve always put eggs in many baskets and hadn't been able to narrow down what I wanted to do. I thought Baret would help me find a specific career angle, but I actually realized I don’t have to narrow myself down yet; I’ve found that I enjoy even more subjects than I previously thought.

We often hear from our Scholars that the Baret year opened up new avenues for them, or expanded their sense of their horizons. It sounds like that was the case for you.

Yes, 500%. I reflected on how specific Morning Program speakers or activities changed my thinking, which I turned into my Capstone Project. For example, at our very first Morning Program, the cultural anthropologist Christian Madjsberg talked about "abductive reasoning"—observing without making prior conclusions. It made me realize I had left so many interests behind because I didn't think they were "good for a career" or I wasn't the "best" at them. It was such a sad verdict to put on myself. Since coming back, I’ve gone back to painting with my dad and taking dance classes.

What was the best part of your year?

I know it’s a cliché, but it has to be the people. The places we went to were incredible, and I’ve seen more than I ever thought I would at this age, but the relationships we made were so special. You become so close because you are experiencing new things every single day. I feel closer to people in my cohort than to friends I’ve known my whole life. We have homes all around the world now. It’s almost better that we aren’t all neighbors.

Many Scholars feel more resilient when the year is over, less afraid of failure or perceived risks. How has the program changed your perspective on taking risks or facing failure?

Baret definitely instilled more confidence in me. We heard over and over again from founders and speakers about how "failure is redirection.” They spoke about failure not as a mistake, but as a necessary phase to reach success. Now I feel I’m subconsciously taking steps to do things I wouldn't naturally do. I’ve internalized lessons in a way that are reflected in my actions. That is something that I’ll have for the rest of my life.

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The attitude towards gap years is very different in Sweden than it is in some other countries. A gap year is normal, common even. Can you talk about that difference in attitude?

It's hard to put the difference into words. In Sweden, life is valued. People who take a gap year here are revitalized to go to school and excited to come back. I couldn't imagine putting in all that effort in high school only to plummet back into college after one summer.

Baret gave me more than all my time in high school because the faculty have actually done what they’re preaching about. They actually have experience, whereas my teachers in high school were reading from the same book I was.

Imagine a prospective Scholar wants to know one thing to make the most of their time with Baret. What is one recommendation you would give?

Be open to everything and don’t fly on autopilot. Immerse yourself completely. Get out and experience everything you can. Even if you just want to relax, do it in a new botanical garden or a historic site.

The other thing I loved to do was to try to find "your" place in each city—a favorite restaurant or a corner shop. It gives you a sense of what it truly feels like to live there rather than just flying by. And when the year is up, you now have seven different cosmopolitan cities where you can go back and have a home in.

What’s next for you after your time with Baret?

I am going to Lund University in Sweden. I’ve chosen a very broad course—politics, economics, international relations, and philosophy—which includes two exchange terms abroad. Baret has had a huge influence on me wanting to try these different things and read broadly to figure out what I’m truly interested in. I’m really looking forward to applying everything I learned journeying across the world to those studies.

We know you will, and we wish you the best of luck. Thank you for speaking with us, Andrea!

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