Gap years aren’t about falling behind. They’re about catching up with yourself.

Hi, I'm Ryan Winzenburg

Founder of The Growth Year

This is my Story

My daughter’s college experience didn’t start the way we’d hoped. Like so many teens navigating post-COVID life, she went from high school lockdowns straight into the pressures of college—with no pause to process, recover, or reorient. Emotionally, psychologically, and academically, it was just too much.

We hit the brakes. She came home. And that “off-ramp” year became a turning point—not a failure. She worked with a therapist, built back her executive functioning, reconnected with friends, and slowly regained her spark. We searched everywhere for guidance on how to plan a restorative, constructive gap year. What we found was a patchwork of blogs, opinion pieces, and a lot of “throw your backpack on and figure it out.” That’s when I knew families deserved better.

My own gap year—teaching English in Taiwan—had been a game-changer. I’d climbed coastal cliffs , acted in a TV series, and ate delicious (and unidentifiable) things at night market stalls. But more importantly, I returned to college with a sense of purpose and perspective. I wanted that for my daughter. I want that for your family, too. 

Today, I work with teens and parents to co-create transformative, structured gap year plans that build confidence—not chaos. We combine personalized coaching with curated experiences and safety-first travel planning. Whether a student is healing, hungry for challenge, or simply needs space to recalibrate, I help them step away with intention—and return with clarity.

Because gap years aren’t about falling behind. They’re about catching up with yourself.

Let’s build a Growth Year you’ll never regret.