Don’t Take a Gap Year, Take a Life Year | Tomás Esquivel | TEDxLeidenUniversity



AI Summary

In this inspiring TED talk, the speaker explores the concept of taking a “life year” instead of a traditional gap year. They share a personal journey that emphasizes the importance of experiencing life beyond classroom walls and connecting with real-world challenges. The speaker highlights their decision to leave university to travel through 17 countries, focusing on meaningful experiences, such as hitchhiking, trying local foods, and volunteering. They recount the story of a boy named Milap, whose struggles with a neurodegenerative disease enlighten the speaker on resilience and the human experience. The talk encourages listeners to follow their intuition and make their own path, reinforcing the idea that life is about the connections we make and the impact we have on others. The speaker ultimately inspires the audience to embrace their journey and take bold steps toward exploring the world and themselves.