Responsibility - it's such a loaded word. |
At the Bridge, we closely examine this nuanced concept and we challenge conventional notions, embracing a perspective where the essence of responsibility transcends mere obligation and duty. Instead, responsibility is akin to stepping onto a path of personal evolution—an adventure brimming with self-discovery and finding what you have to offer to your world. | We urge individuals to cultivate awareness, discernment, and adaptability; these important skills not only assist emerging adults in navigating life's uncertainties but also foster their ability to thrive amidst its challenges and contribute their unique talents to make a difference to themselves and others. |
Join us as we unravel the layers of responsibility,
inviting you to partake in acompelling progression of newfound agency and mattering.
Responsibility (the ability to respond) is The Bridge’s main goal and desired outcome for our students, which entails gaining and using awareness, discernment and adaptability. Before coming to us, our students have not had an adequate ability to respond to life’s challenges. Because of this, their wellbeing has suffered and they have failed to meet their goals, which in turn hurts their confidence.
This already tells us that one’s ability to respond (or responsibility) needs:
- Awareness: to understand the situation or goal at hand,
- Discernment: to choose the skills and response that best fit the situation,
- Adaptability: to modify our behavior or perspective, to learn new responses
David graduated from The Bridge in 2016. He then went to Georgia State University and earned a degree in Philosophy and Chinese. Through discipline and sacrifice, he has successfully managed to combine working jobs that provide him stability, as well as give him the chance to sustain and further his creative projects | "The Bridge planted seeds of responsibility; it was an introduction to being an adult." "It took me from where I was to be willing to throw myself into the next problem. That's how you have to approach it, as a one-step-at-a-time type of thing" |
Stay tuned to learn more about which skills are needed to learn to be responsible! 🔎
Part 2: Supportive Remedies at The Bridge! 🗣️🌍
After returning from my eye-opening visit to the programs within Supportive Immersion Institute in Costa Rica, I found myself consumed by thoughts that lingered long after my departure. Little did I know just how profound the impact would be on my understanding of cultural immersion. Sitting among the community of young adults at The Bridge, I was drawn into a whirlwind of stories – tales that resonated with themes of self-discovery, growth, and connection. Each narrative, from reflections on their past selves to the evolution of their identities, painted a vibrant portrait of the incredible power of immersion. | It was in these candid conversations that my perception of cultural immersion underwent a profound shift. The ways in which each young person described their experience with their homestay families and how they forged deep connections and sincere appreciation for their time together were quite moving. This added layer of depth illuminated the true essence of immersion, revealing it as more than just a series of activities, but rather as portals to profound connections with both the people and the world around them. And it was not merely about experiencing life in a different country; the true significance lay in the unique cultural immersion found within the country of Costa Rica. |
From the moment I set foot in Atenas, Costa Rica, I was struck by the rhythm of life here. The incessant buzz of "must do's" and "to do's" seemed to fade away with each interaction, replaced by a sense of ease and belonging that enveloped me. What struck me most was the genuine warmth and hospitality of the community members, homestay families, and staff at The Bridge. | Far from feeling like a stranger in a foreign land, I was welcomed with open arms, as if returning home after a long journey. The deep connections forged between The Bridge team and its community partners underscored care that extended unreservedly to everyone involved. This extension of care fosters belonging and offers freedom to explore, with a safety net of support in place. |
It's a space where the masks we wear to conceal our insecurities can finally be laid to rest, allowing our true selves to emerge, unencumbered by fear or judgment. A chance to rediscover joy and creativity, unburdened by the weight of what isn't working in our lives.
PART 1 : What's Really Going On?
In the whirlwind of emerging adulthood, that pivotal moment of shedding who you were to become who you wish to become can hit hard. It’s when we are all trying to navigate the maze-like twists and turns of life, grappling with big questions about who we are, what we are here for, and where we fit into this vast world around us. Whether you were the straight-A student with everything neatly mapped out or the one who felt like you were constantly playing catch-up, socially or academically, there is a point where we all find ourselves at a crossroads. | Suddenly, uncertainty looms large, and we are left feeling adrift, maybe even a little isolated, wondering if anyone else is weathering the same storm. Some of us bounce in and out of these moments as we stumble forward, while others find ourselves stuck, unsure how to break free. And yet, life barrels on, heedless of whether we are keeping pace. The weight of it all can feel suffocating, and before we know it, we have been swept off course, struggling to find our way back to solid ground. 🌞🦋🌈 |
with unprecedented challenges, the full weight of which is yet to be fully comprehended.
While we are confident that the scenario described above resonates with anyone navigating the tumultuous seas of young adulthood, it's crucial to acknowledge that for those just beginning this journey, there's an added layer of complexity to contend with. | Anxiety is heightened, yet understanding the root source feels unattainable, given how elusive it can be to pinpoint the exact cause. This heightened sense of disconnect and uncertainty can make it feel impossible to reclaim the sense of self they once knew. |
As we ponder the profound challenges faced by emerging adults in today's tumultuous world, it becomes evident that traditional support approaches may fall short. Looking ahead to Part Two of our series, we'll explore how The Bridge in Costa Rica offers hope amidst the uncertainty. Through a holistic framework deeply rooted in Costa Rican culture, The Bridge embodies a paradigm shift in supporting young adults. By fostering deep connections, community engagement, and an expanded vision of the future, The Bridge guides young adults to rediscover themselves and their potential contributions to the world.
Embark on a Virtual Journey
| In this special newsletter, we bring you a mix of testimonial videos that highlight the transformative experiences of our alumni. These brave young adults have overcome challenges and achieved remarkable progress, and we couldn't be prouder of their accomplishments. |
- “You surround yourself with amazing people who are searching for the light. Inevitable is going to rub off on you!”
- “There’s always going to be ups and downs. You can appreciate and learn from the downs.”
- “You can make The Bridge what you want it to be. It’s a sandbox for your betterment.”
- “I appreciated staff just being themselves and helping me.” “I think Costa Rica provides a priceless detox for your process.”
"They have given me immense hope that my children can have a more comfortable and bigger space to live in." "I am so grateful."
Student Takeaways
"I learned gratitude and work ethic. I remember the same people on the bus waking up early every day. They were going to work, dealing with the traffic, and so were we." "I was impressed with how the locals find happiness despite their difficult conditions. I learned how to find happiness and joy in the little things. " | "It stood out to me listening to Griselda saying that what we did for her is just work for us, but for the community, it was an inspiration and letting people know that we care of them; that they are not forgotten." "My learning was being more confident about myself and the work I can do; seeing what I'm capable of." |
Would you like to learn more about course reviews like this one? Read on...
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After using this framework to guide and structure the personal growth and program experiences of our students for several years we thought, wouldn't this framework make for a really interesting and valuable college course?... So, we partnered up with Veritas University to offer a course called Sustainable Lifestyles, focused on young adult wellbeing and centered around the 9 Dimensions of Healthy Living.
In addition to providing students with lots of information on how to navigate their wellbeing, it has tons of experiential elements that make it really engaging.
Check out Dr. Danny Recio & Dr. Heather Tracy’s article published in the well respected EAIE FORUM magazine last summer of 2023. Finding the path to mental fitness: From languishing to flourishing is a worthy read!
| What if you were guaranteed immense clarity and direction just from taking a simple year off of school to travel abroad? What if it could propel you way farther than jumping straight into college? Would you do it without hesitation? Danny Recio, Director and Founder of The Bridge Gap Program, took a gap year in South Africa after high school. It was during his time there where he had a “coming of age” experience and found his calling in working with people. All because of his time abroad, Danny went on to start gap year programs - a therapeutic option called The Bridge (a therapeutic community for young men) and a more traditional coed gap program (Si! Gap Program) in Costa Rica, guiding them along their own coming of age experiences. |
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-118-making-the-most-of-your-young-adulthood/id1499891712?i=1000550592741
- What it was like growing up and going to school in Costa Rica
- Danny’s gap year in South Africa
- How impactful and helpful taking a gap year can be
- When Danny became interested in psychology
- Danny’s experience in college in Costa Rica vs the U.S.
- Danny’s insight on what can be really helpful for young adults as they navigate their identity and the world around them
- How The Bridge Gap Program came about
- Danny’s advice on goal setting
- Connect with Danny Recio at his Bridge email or his NSA email
This student came to us really thirsty to find meaning and purpose but was really struggling to find it. He describes the process of finding something within him that he could offer the world around him in the following way:
| Student: "I met these health professionals who visit people with disabilities in their homes. We visited a couple of these homes and I noticed their houses were not very accommodating to their disability. It occurred to me that I could do something about that. So I was helped connect with someone who knows a lot about construction, don Kike, who worked with me on simple projects like building railings and ramps in these people’s homes. Just getting into those houses…people chip in, neighbors come over…it’s small projects. I don’t know if they mean a lot to other people, but they definitely mean a lot to me.” |
"I personally found this project profoundly meaningful and moving, but I also happen to know that it was tremendously touching to the families." He and I visited some of the families after the project. One of them in particular, the mother with the son in the wheelchair in the picture. She was so grateful, moved to tears to see our student, asking repeatedly when she’d see him again. You know, I think she was thankful for the ramp he built, but I got the sense that she was more grateful that he had shown care for her and her son, she was grateful that he had played Legos with her son and valued him as a person.
I don’t think this young man is going to go on to work in construction or washing cars; that’s not necessarily what he found within him. I think he found that taking initiative to help the world around him motivates him and gives him energy. I imagine that will become a central part of his identity.
Why is something so simple so powerful at the same time? Because...
- Humans have a deep need to matter; this means to feel valued and to add value. In other words, we want to be appreciated and feel accepted in a group, and at the same time want to be recognized as a contributing unique individual in that group.
- Skills, talents and gifts that flow from within feel pleasurable and often effortless when put to action. We all have character traits and tendencies that make us more suitable for some tasks, relationships, environments, etc. When we become aware of those and find the courage to let those inner skills and preferences organize our life choices, people tend to feel energized, motivated, and fulfilled.
- At The Bridge, we provide a safe and fun real-life laboratory for our students to experiment all kinds of ways of being in the world. They meet all kinds of people from different walks of life, they are exposed to different challenges, and they are offered numerous individualized opportunities for them to figure out when they feel “in the zone” or “at home” in the world, with themselves, with what they are doing or with how they interact with others. As guides and companions in their journey, we are attuned to noticing when they seem to be in that zone or that flow, when they are “at home” doing something.
What will change? What will stay the same?
- Universidad Veritasstudyabroad.veritas.cr/ is the most flexible option with a plethora of unique class options as well as 4 to 8 week Spanish intensive options.
- Texas Tech has a campus that can offer semester options once a high school diploma is completed.
- Arizona State University offers dual enrollment and college options as well from their partnership with U Latina in Costa Rica.
- There are still full days of activities, group planning and budgeting of weekend recreation, cultural immersion and Aventuras, opportunities for service, group meal planning, grocery shopping, and individual guidance in coaching sessions as well as planning a healthy lifestyle (including fitness, socializing, productive "work" time, and group support).
- The Bridge house is as awesome as it's ever been with plenty of space, the recreational area for pool and ping pong, and outdoor gardens, meeting deck and gorgeous views.
- Our staff mentors are here and waiting for your arrival to build strong mentoring relationships and friendship.
- Participants are still able to bring a phone and a laptop to support their learning, organization, and communication.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, we decided to remain committed to guiding our enrolled students to appropriate closure of their process with us. And we have. We exercised tons of creative power to provide them with the best experience given the circumstances. And now, as Costa Rica’s borders are staying closed, and strict guidelines of social distancing continue, we feel it is best not to take any new students for the time being.
It felt important to our integrity to stay on with the students we had, and it feels important to our integrity now to only take students until we can fulfill our mission in the way we have designed it; or until we design something else. The Bridge has been designed to have the world be the main therapist and teacher: the ride in the public bus into the city, the journey and immersion in a rural community, the local friendships, the perfect internship with a caring mentor, going to college in a foreign country. Those are all attenuated or dormant under our current conditions.
So, we have decided to take a nap…and do what people do when they sleep: reenergize, dream, assimilate information and learn from experiences lived!
As I begin to reflect on these experiences lived, tons of images flash through my head and I experience immense satisfaction at feeling like we have fulfilled our mission:
“to support societal and global wellbeing through providing small scale experiences that will guide young adults to become more responsible, fulfilled and compassionate members of society on a larger scale”
Thus, just like the world has been our main therapist and teacher, it is for the world that we have worked hard for the past 8 years. Yes, for the young men of course! But not so they become more self-centered and focused on their own pleasure seeking, but so they become empowered agents of change, so they realize that the world needs their own unique talents, even if they felt most of their life they had no talents or direction, and had to come all the way to a foreign land to find them.
I am convinced this is a good mission, and we have data from our participants, publications, and research to support it. I am sure this mission will prevail because it helps its primary clients, it helps the world, it is resilient and it is adaptive. We are immensely thankful to all of you who have participated of our community. Rest assured that we will improve this mission and continue it, like the life that magically springs in a forest after a devastating fire.
And yet, I wonder if when the day arrives, I will feel like we are taking a nap or we are waking up from an 8 year dream. If that is so, I am sure I will regard it as one the most amazing dreams I have ever had…
Thank you all for your continued support of The Bridge - Costa Rica. We do believe that now, more than ever, the cross-cultural experiences that we provide are crucial to awakening empathy, equality, equity and life long learning and connection.
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