After high school most students are heading off to college or to the work force, but graduating senior Francisco Villafranca he has something else in mind for his future. Instead of attending college after high school, Villafranca is taking a controversial gap year. For 6 months he is going to live in Africa and do charity work which ranges from helping unfortunate children to people who have HIV/AIDS.
Students who plan on taking a gap year may receive criticism from their parents and teachers, because they are worried that the student may not return to school. What’s unique in Villafranca’s situation is that he isn’t taking a break and lying around on a couch, he’s going out to see the world and use his health and knowledge to better a community.
“I really wanted to take a gap year. I’m really tired after high school, so I want to go see the world. Every night I watch BBC newsand it would put me to sleep, but it would talk about different parts of the world, and Africa seemed the most interesting,” Villafranca said.
Africa wasn’t Villafranca’s original game plan when he was getting ready for his future. Originally, he applied to multiple colleges including West Point. Unfortunately, he didn’t get accepted into his first-choice college, so he used his negative circumstance and went and did research on what he could do with his time.
“When I realized West Point didn’t accept me, I was really disappointed. Maybe I needed a breather and to take some time, collect myself, and so I thought maybe taking a gap year would be an excellent opportunit. I thought Africa was a pretty good plan B,” Villafranca said.
For a lot of parents, if their child said they wanted to live in Africa for six months, it would be a big fat no due to obvious reasons like terrorists, diseases, and gang violence, but Villafranca’s parents have let go of the reigns and let their son decide on his own future.
“My parents have mixed feelings. They’re proud of me that I actually want to go help people, but at the same time, it is Africa,” Villafranca said.
Villafranca has had to deal with multiple different opinions on his situation. The traditional after school plan is to go to college, but he has stood his ground and decided that donating his time was the best option for him.
“When I first started, all of my friends tried to talk me out of it. They were like, ‘it’s Africa. You’re going to get captured’,” Villafranca said.
Villafranca hasn’t completely thrown out the idea of college though. After his gap year, he plans on attending college to become a doctor, or if things change, possibly a lawyer or journalist. He feels that his time in Africa will positively affect what he wants to do with his future, and the people he plans on helping.
“When I come back from Africa, the dream is Georgetown. I want to become a doctor, and so whenever I go to Africa, I want to see different aspects. I can see doctors help with HIV and AIDS and what impacts it has on those peoples lives,” Villafranca said.
Many 18 year olds have no clue what they want to do with the next few years of their lives, but Villafranca has decided to see how others live their life to decide how to live his.
“We’re all people in the end, but how we live is so different, and I think that is so cool.”