by Sydney Morrison ’13

CJ Krauss (’12) did not go to college after high school, but somehow he still ended his first semester post-high school with a handful of college credits. Not one of those credits, however, was earned inside a classroom.

Instead of attending a four-year college like most students, Krauss entered a program called Carpe Diem Education. It is a gap year, technically, but Krauss is receiving 36 credits to do what he loves most: travel the world. Instead of being stuck in a room all day reading text books, Krauss spent the last few months in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, living with the locals and learning the languages and histories through firsthand experience.

Spending months abroad may seem drastic to those who have been stuck in Olney all their lives, but not to Krauss. “I moved to Italy when I was 13 for three years because my mom is in the Navy,” said Krauss. “During those three years I traveled to over 14 different countries [and many of them] multiple times.”

Deciding to apply for the program was a no-brainer for Krauss. “Honestly, who wouldn’t want to travel the world, get college credit and help the world become a better place?” he said. “Plus, it was cheaper than actually going to college!”

Krauss said the program “really teaches you from a firsthand perspective instead of [just being shown a couple of] pictures up on the smart board.” He participated in many out-of-the classroom experiences that ranged from helping at an orphanage or an organic farm to making adobe bricks for houses. Being in the field also allowed Krauss to learn things like budgeting, safe traveling techniques and global social skills. Krauss felt strongly that “education happens outside of the classroom, while you’re living life. Plus, you get credits through [programs like Carpe Diem], make connections with people all over the world and have experiences that most people would die for.”

Krauss says that more than half of his friends live somewhere outside of the United States, and that if he ever feels like traveling back to other countries he has someplace to stay. “My favorite [part of the program so far] has to be my home stay outside of Chiang Mai. I was able to spend two weeks learning how to speak Thai with my makeshift family. I love my Thai mom and grandma to death.”

Krauss said joining the program was the best decision he ever made. Sitting in a classroom could never match the experience of seeing the historical sites of Cambodia such as Angkor Wat and The Killing Fields in person. “It really makes you appreciate the world in a different way.”

Krauss recently departed from the States again on January 20, heading for Ghana, where he will spend his second semester developing a theatre program for the local children and teaching them English as a second language. “You could take all the classes in the world and not one would add up to actually seeing these cultures in person.”