Léa Lebeau, student returning from a gap year
- Introduce yourself ! What studies are you following?
My name is Léa Lebeau and I am 21 years old. I am currently in a third year degree in Ecology and Biology of Organisms, which is a continuation of SVT. I did my caesura in civic service in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, in the Alpes-Maritimes, in the hinterland of Nice.
- How did you find out about the “caesura” system within the establishment?
This happened a bit by chance. I was mainly looking for an escape from Covid-19, confinements, etc. I typed “caesure” on my computer, I found the page of the BAIP (Bureau d’Aide à l’Insertion Professionnelle) and I said: “Wow! That’s what I need”.
- Have you provided support, whether educational, administrative or financial?
To build my file, I was well accompanied. At the BAIP, they are always there, listening, present to advise us and to help us.
- Tell us a bit more about your gap year project.
A year ago exactly, I left by car for the Alpes-Maritimes, in my new home in Vence, not far from Saint-Paul-de-Vence, where I was for six months in the environmental service of the town hall. There, I carried out a call for projects that they had made. It was an atlas of municipal biodiversity, that is to say an inventory of biodiversity. I was mainly responsible for raising awareness among the general public. This happened through communication on social networks, on the town hall’s website, through the creation of specific files. I also had the chance to take a personal initiative. I love working with children, I have my BAFA and I was able to go to schools twice a week to carry out my project. I went to schools, recreation centers, the library, the crèche. I went there to make them aware of the environment and small gestures, but also to learn how to identify certain species. It was so good !
- Now that you are back in college, what benefits have you lost from this experience?
A lot ! The main benefit is that it really makes you grow. The Léa of October 2021 is not the same as the Léa of today, that of October 2022. She does not have the same mentality at all. In October last year, I didn’t want to set foot in university again. I had decided that it was over for me, I wanted to go to BTS. Still in the same field, but no longer at university. After four months of civic service, I changed my mind. I met people who do the job that I dream of doing today and who really gave me the drive to continue, to tell me that I want to go to a master’s degree, that I want to graduate, that I want to become a researcher. It makes you grow on a lot of points, it’s super rewarding. We meet people, but we are also alone for the first time in front of a project. When we are with the teachers, we always have someone to guide us. There, there are things you don’t know how to do and even if you’re not really alone, you still need to have a minimum of autonomy. You have to take charge in a city you don’t know. You have to create your own little world and that also makes you grow a lot. But it’s super interesting.
- Since then, has it been too difficult to resume your studies?
I thought it was going to be hard to remember what I had learned in class, to find the notions, but in fact not at all. However, I haven’t specifically reviewed my classes, but I feel that I am perhaps more involved and more motivated because now I know what I want to do. I know why I am here. Before I never went to the library to revise, now I can spend three hours there without any problem. Materials that before seemed useless to me, and in fact at the town hall, I had to use them. I told myself that I should have listened better in class. We realize that what we do is not for nothing. So going back to class was even a desire in the end.
- Would you advise other students to get started?
Yes, but not necessarily by doing civic service. It’s good to do civic service, but there are plenty of other options that can lend themselves to a gap year. It’s super important, we have to go. Even if it’s not far, even if it’s not abroad, who cares. You have to start from six months, a year, get your head out of your screen and discover what’s behind what you know. You must not be afraid and say to yourself “afterwards I have to go back to class”. Don’t worry, you’ll be back!