Pacific Discovery instructor Maria Saenz-Holguin on why she became a gap year instructor, what swimming with manta rays in Hawaii and falling off a surfboard in Costa Rica have in common, and why intentional travel keeps pulling her back.
Gap Year Advice · 6 min read
I did not become a gap year instructor because it felt like a job. If I am honest, it started from a belief I could not really shake: that travel changes you in ways almost nothing else does.
I have felt it myself, over and over again.
For me, travel has never just been about going somewhere new or checking places off a list. It has been a way to connect with people, with places, and maybe most importantly, with myself. There is something about being out of your routine, away from the constant noise and distractions, that makes things feel clearer.
In everyday life, it is so easy to go on autopilot. You are busy, you are responding, you are moving from one thing to the next without really stopping to ask yourself how you feel or what you actually want.
Travel interrupts that.
It puts you in situations that are unfamiliar, sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes incredibly beautiful, and often both at the same time. And in those moments, you start to notice things about yourself that you might not see otherwise. You realise what excites you, what challenges you, what drains you, what lights you up. You start to see your strengths more clearly, but also your blind spots. And there is something really honest about that: you cannot hide from yourself as easily when everything around you is new.
That is why I believe so deeply in the transformational power of travel. It becomes a tool for self-awareness. A way to tune into the things that, in daily life, we tend to ignore. It gives you space to actually listen to yourself.
And that is really what drew me to becoming a gap year instructor in the first place.
It felt like a way to be part of that process, not just for myself, but for other people too.
Because the thing is, I do not just get to witness that transformation. I get to live it alongside the students.
This job still feels a bit surreal sometimes. My office can look like swimming in the ocean in Hawaii, surrounded by manta rays. Or spending a morning in Costa Rica learning to surf, falling off the board more times than I can count and laughing about it. And yes, those moments are incredible. They are the kind of experiences I used to dream about having.
But what keeps me coming back is not just the locations.
It is the people, and it is the process.
There is something really special about watching a group of students arrive at the beginning of a program, a little unsure, sometimes quiet, sometimes trying to figure out where they fit, and then slowly seeing them open up.
You start to notice the small shifts first. Someone who was hesitant to speak begins to share more. Someone who did not think they were outdoorsy ends up leading a hike. Someone who was homesick starts to feel at home in a completely new environment.
And then, at some point, it all clicks.
They start trusting themselves more. They take initiative. They build real connections. They begin to understand what they care about, what kind of life they want to build, and what kind of person they want to be.
That is the part that feels meaningful to me.
I really believe in what a gap semester can offer. Taking that time, intentionally stepping away from the traditional path, gives students the space to explore without the pressure of having everything figured out. It gives them real experiences to reflect on, instead of just ideas. And from that, they can make more grounded, more authentic decisions about what comes next.
In that sense, the work feels purposeful. It feels like it matters.
At the same time, it also aligns so naturally with who I am and how I want to live. I have always been a curious person. I like asking questions, trying new things, being in unfamiliar places. I do not think I will ever get tired of learning about different cultures or seeing the world from different perspectives. This job allows me to keep doing that, constantly.
And maybe that is another reason I keep coming back.
Even when the itinerary is similar, no two trips are ever the same. The group is different. The energy is different. And I am different too. I am always changing, always growing, always seeing things through a slightly new lens. So each experience becomes an opportunity, not just for the students, but for me as well.
In a way, continuing to travel like this is my own commitment to growth. It is a way of choosing, again and again, to stay open. To keep learning. To keep being challenged.
And to keep showing up for others while I do it.
Because at the end of the day, that is what makes this work feel so special. It is not just about the places we go, but about what happens within people while we are there. It is about those small, quiet moments of realisation. The conversations that shift someone’s perspective. The experiences that stay with you long after the trip ends.
That is why I became a gap year instructor.
And honestly, that is why I keep coming back.
Hawaii Mini Semester (6 weeks, swimming with manta rays, cultural immersion and outdoor adventure):https://www.pacificdiscovery.org/programs/hawaii-mini-semester
Costa Rica Mini Semester (6 weeks, animal rescue, surfing, Spanish immersion):https://www.pacificdiscovery.org/programs/costa-rica-mini-semester
Meet our instructor team: https://www.pacificdiscovery.org/admissions/meet-our-team
Browse all programs: https://www.pacificdiscovery.org/programs
Book a call with our admissions team: https://www.pacificdiscovery.org/contact-us/get-in-touch/book-call-with-admissions-advisor
Posted by Doreen Mesman on October 19, 2026
