
Getting Smart Podcast
What if the Gap Year Was Actually a Launch Year? | Abby Falik
Feb 5, 2025
Abby Falik, founder of The Flight School, discusses transformative education for high school graduates. She advocates for a 'launch year' that goes beyond traditional gap years, focusing on personal exploration and experiential learning. Falik emphasizes the need for cultivating essential human skills in an AI-driven world, such as empathy and resilience. She also highlights the importance of aligning personal passions with global needs and envisions engaging a million young people through her initiative by 2035, aiming to reshape education's future.
32:21
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Quick takeaways
- The Flight School redefines transitional educational experiences by promoting a 'launch year' that fosters exploration, self-discovery, and engagement in meaningful work.
- Emphasizing essential human skills like resilience and empathy, the program prepares young adults to navigate and address complex societal challenges in the future.
Deep dives
Reimagining Education Through Flight School
The Flight School aims to transform traditional education by moving away from a rigid, standardized approach. Instead of training students to chase grades and follow a prescribed path, it emphasizes exploration, curiosity, and personal development. By creating a program for high school graduates that includes a 'launch year' rather than a 'gap year', the initiative encourages young people to engage in experiences that help them discover their passions and potential. This change in terminology reflects a shift towards viewing this transitional period as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery rather than a void in education.
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