For many young adults, the arrival of August
signifies the start of the college journey, a time to pack bags, leave home (maybe) and study independently among thousands of other students. But for Malia Obama, 18, and an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 U.S. young adults, this August is a moment to press pause on the achievement- oriented rat race and take a gap year. A gap year is the time between high school and
By Erin Strybis
college or college and life after college for young adults to focus on self-exploration. Popular in Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand—with growing interest in the U.S.—it often involves travel or volunteering. Obama is taking the year off before attending Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., in August 2017. There are a handful of Lutheran gap year
programs, including Lutheran Volunteer Corps and ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission. But only one was modeled after a Scandinavian Folkehøgskole (folk school) created by Lutheran pastor Nikolai Grundtvig in the 1840s—ALT (Abundant Life Together) Year. ALT Year is an ELCA-affiliated program
founded by Josh Graber in 2011. A pastor and self- described entrepreneur in the church, Graber took time off amid his college journey at a folk school in Norway. After eventually returning to college and completing seminary, he now directs ALT Year. “We all need times when we step off the track so
we can reflect on our lives and relationships and what our calls are,” he said. “Whatever age you are, that’s important. For young adults in particular, gap years are important because they’ve lived such pressured lives as students.” For ALT Year, those aged 18 to 25 are matched
with ELCA congregations and other nonprofit organizations in Toledo, Ohio, for service learning. Study, worship and travel are also a large component. ALT Year cohorts have been held in 2013-14 and 2015-16. A third begins in September.
As part of ALT Year programming, the 2015-16 cohort visited the Spiritual Center of Maria Stein (Ohio) for ELCA community organizer training. “ALTers” participated in October, which emphasized the theme of “community.”
Connecting with each other Amber Kalina felt burnt out after college with its endless tests and essays. Interested in pastoral ministry, she started researching options for a gap year because “there was no way I was going to pipeline from college to seminary.” Kalina said she ultimately chose ALT Year
because she “wanted to do something meaningful” and grow in her “faith in that journey as well.” Elisabeth Coats graduated from college early and
was looking for a break before pursuing graduate school. She learned of ALT Year from Graber, a close family friend, and applied. In September 2015, Coats and Kalinas began
30 AUGUST 2016
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