Bridge Year location: India
Academic focus: planning on Public Policy with a certificate in Teacher Preparation
Hi! My name is Jessica (she/her), and I’m from Hong Kong. Since I was young, I had always wanted to take a gap year devoted to travel and service, so I’m very grateful I got to participate in Bridge Year 2022-23 in India! Spending 9 months in India allowed me to wholeheartedly immerse myself in the country’s culture, build meaningful relationships with local communities, and develop a deeper understanding of myself and my role in society. Bridge Year entirely transformed my relationship with time, service, and travel, and I look forward to letting these takeaways guide me throughout my time at Princeton. With interests in public policy, international affairs, as well as education and psychology, I plan to major in Public Policy with a certificate in Teacher Preparation. Looking ahead, I hope to continue to gather the stories of the world through experiences like Bridge Year and allow these opportunities to shape the way I perceive and interact with society. Bridge Year was truly a challenging, eye-opening, and transformative experience and I am excited to share my experiences with all of you!
What is one skill or talent that you developed while on Bridge Year?
Stone carving! Stone carving is a rich tradition that has shaped India’s architecture and artisanal work for centuries. Since we arrived, every temple or palace we visited had walls and ceilings that were intricately decorated with stone carvings illustrating the stories of gods, deities, or ancestors. Inspired by this craft of imbuing so much value and tradition into blocks of stone, I started going to an art studio along the lake a couple times each week. By the end of the year, thanks to the patience and guidance of my mentor, I was able to carve a few stone sculptures and bring some back home!
What advice would you give to prospective Bridge Year applicants?
I would like to echo the words of Bridge Year Program alumna Yun-Yun Li '17, who gave a speech at our send-off reception with advice that served as an inspiring, consolatory guide throughout our time in India: “Learn to be able to hold two (or more) contradicting truths in your heart and mind at the same time, and still be able to move forward.” Many conflicting truths will certainly emerge throughout your experience, but it is important to give yourself grace and discover the acceptance and strength needed to continue moving forward.