What would your FA teen do with a GAP YEAR?

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CMdeux:
I really do believe that it's possible for kids to remain within their own communities and make a difference/find themselves.

There are needs everywhere.

Maybe I just hope so, I dunno. I realize that travel is broadening, and maybe we'll try to do the east coast during a gap year-- it's possible, I think, and it would be amazing.

A lot depends on how feasible air travel turns out to be. If it's merely a PITA, that is one thing.

twinturbo:
Best bet is something where chronological age isn't a legit barrier to begin with. One of my nieces competes on the international circuit for violin. She also performs at the metropolitan symphony as a soloist as well and she just turned 13. She also absolutely loves it, we all support her violin habit because it's $$$. But, she made it all the way to national champ to international competition on a fairly cruddy Yamaha, the travel is what got expensive until she fell in love recently with her new violin.

I took DS1 out of school for 6 months so he could visit every local and major metropolitan wordclass science museum and zoo and astronomy and robotics event available to us. It was a lot of picnic in the minivan and/or McD if NYC.

The reason I mention age because DH initiates and supervises collegiate internships. In the last year he was approached by someone at the HS level to facilitate internships. The problem is that taking charge of minors became nightmarish for all involved.

Check out Intel & Microsoft's girla in science and engineering not because I want to herd your child here as a female specifically but I have solid contacts there and the funding is really solid and it's somewhat local for you and it is designed for girls in that age range and it could start really awesome contacts. I could dig up a ready to use contact in 2 weeks. Need to give them business time to respond.

Other potential bonus is scholarship. Follow the money and opportunity.

ETA: I reread and saw that you've actually considered Intel but have concerns about it being politicized. While that's true to an extent what I would add is what their youth programs do offers much more opportunity than winning their public prize. Becoming entrenched with Intel to develop mentors and contacts will allow you to avail on their relationships with other entities such as NASA and Microsoft in the short long term. And there are people there with networks to great universities or previous work experience in something cool, international sites, etc.

What works is networking in and becoming part of the fabric there. Once there colleagues with ample academic chops and ties will do much to help an obviously bright, accomplished young mind on fire.

twinturbo:
DH has the following reccomendation as a former hiring manager in the tech industry and as a graduate admissions board member: Join an open source project.

It will develop skills to program, to work on a large scale collaboration, to network globally (not exclusive to only the most developed nations), to contribute to humanity, to build a portfolio of programming projects, to have fun.

In the open source community age or resources don't matter, it's a meritocracy in the truest sense with contributors from all over the world, you'd quickly recognize that it's truly diverse and not just industrialized countries. You find a project that interests, you develop and submit your code and it either works or doesn't.

For example, Linus Torvalds the author of Linux (the basis of Android for starters) lives in Portland. There is a strong portion of the open source movement centered there. It's entirely possible he's willing to mentor a young open source developer. Considering open source is used nearly everywhere the possibilities are endless and the pricepoint for entry is nearly zero.

candyguru:

--- Quote from: Macabre on February 04, 2013, 02:34:03 PM ---I'm terms of travel, it's been so helpful to see members like Nameless or members' kids (GoingNuts, LindaJo, and Peg) travel.

I am pretty confident in DS ability to go to a European country by himself by that age.

--- End quote ---

yes, I've been to Europe 3 times (age 13, age 18, and age 39) and not a problem... Italy, France, Britain, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Holland, Norway, Denmark... it can be done, and I know of others with PA who also travel to Europe.