Gap-year greatness: Falcon alumnus embarks on a journey of personal discovery and life lessons

Courtesy of Julian Berkowitz-Sklar

Julian Berkowitz-Sklar takes a short break at a beach house in Koh Samui, Thailand.

Class of 23’ alumnus Julian Berkowitz-Sklar remembers what it was like to grow up among the lush, verdant forests of Costa Rica. He remembers going on hikes with his four older siblings while carrying a backpack as large as he was and seeing other-worldly creatures like sloths hanging from trees. 

His 10 years of childhood in Costa Rica helped spark his passion for environmental science. Before being admitted to Yale University in the early action round last year, Berkowitz-Sklar had already decided to take a gap year to explore the world, regardless of how his college decisions process worked out. 

How experiences in high school furthered his passion for environmental science

Berkowitz-Sklar moved to Saratoga from Costa Rica at age 10 with his family due to his parents’ work. He quickly found Saratoga as a significant transition; however, he was extremely grateful for the welcoming environment.

In high school, he explored his interests in sports and leadership, which he showcased through his role as Associated Student Body (ASB) vice president and a member of two of the school’s varsity sports: basketball and tennis. Berkowitz-Sklar said being on the teams helped foster his teamwork and communication skills, as on the court, you have to communicate with and without words.

“I am thankful for the discipline and training by SHS sports which impacts me daily while backpacking. Basketball and tennis have made it much easier to overcome language barriers and meet people on courts,” Berkowitz Sklar said.

Besides excelling in leadership and athletics, his stellar academic performance was additionally supported by his endeavors in the AP Environmental Science (APES) course. Berkowitz Sklar said that taking the course opened his eyes to environmental issues and sustainability.

“Sloths, snakes, and monkeys were my neighbors [in Costa Rica], and I’m appreciative to have been able to share this incredible biodiversity with other youth and friends,” Berkowitz-Sklar said. “However, during my ten years in Costa Rica, I also witnessed firsthand how human development was not always in harmony with nature.”

Influenced by the nature and wildlife of their upbringing, he and his siblings co-founded an environmental non-governmental organization (NGO) — Nature Now International. Nature Now International is focused on engaging youth around the globe in hands-on science and advocacy measures to protect vulnerable ecosystems and the delicate balance of those who rely on them.

Nature Now International has annually held a Costa Rica Culture and Conservation trip with the APES teacher Kristen Thomson, which is aimed at “outreach, reforestation, sustainable agriculture, sea turtle biological monitoring and the installation of research cameras in the rainforest for biodiversity research while learning about the interdependence of ecosystems.” 

Nature Now International and attending the COP28

During his gap year, Berkowitz-Sklar has already traveled to various countries across the globe — among them, Japan, Thailand and Australia — while doing a variety of different kinds of work, ranging from volunteering on farms, exchanging and teaching language and culture and backpacking.

A highlight for him has been attending the COP28 (Conference of the Parties), a major climate conference, to represent Nature Now International in Dubai in December. Nature Now International received accreditation to attend COP28 with observer status for the conference, meaning they can comment on issues being discussed at some sessions. Countries send leaders and delegates to review progress made by members of the UNFCCC to limit climate change.

The 2023 COP28 conference was focused on an equitable transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy and discussed plans for a transition in Dubai, which historically has been heavily reliant on fossil fuels. The event drew 84,000 attendees from across the globe, including world leaders such as India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, King Charles III and philanthropist billionaire Bill Gates.

“This was the 28th year that a COP is taking place, yet there is still so much to be done. This year, there are more fossil fuel lobbyists in attendance than ever before with 2,457 last year,” Berkowitz-Sklar said. “That’s why it was so important for genuine advocates, impacted people and youth to be represented in these spaces where decisions are made, to ensure that they are just, equitable and sustainable.” 

From his journal entries: Remembering backpacking experiences

“I took a 3-hour train ride from Tokyo to the Chureito Pagoda, which stands hundreds of steps above a historic shrine, providing a one-of-a-kind viewpoint of Mount Fuji. After spending some hours there, the mass of clouds finally moved away to expose a breathtaking sight of the largest mountain in Japan. I then decided to walk for an hour from the Pagoda to Lake Kawaguchi, which would bring me closer to Mount Fuji — the only issues were that the bus and train weren’t available, my phone was at 10%, and I was feeling a bit stressed by my last-minute changes!

I wandered into a 7/11 to charge my phone, no doubt looking extremely sketchy with my bandana and dusty clothes. As I left the 7/11 and made my way towards a long tunnel, I turned around to see a 7/11 worker looking at me strangely. As I finished my 20-minute walk through the tunnel, I saw the worker walking towards me on the other side. Naiko was his name, and he was a 22-year-old university student who had moved from Kyoto to study.

Having noticed that I looked lost, he had stopped working, driven around the tunnel and made it his job to find me and make sure I was okay. A friendship was born with that, and with Google Translate as a virtual translator, he spent the next 8 hours with me, showing me around the entire town, driving me to meet his friends and taking me to experience the local onsen (Japanese hot spring), as well as inviting me to experience local Japanese cuisine. He took the train back with me to Tokyo, and we spent the next day exploring the city streets before he left for home.

Courtesy of Julian Berkowitz-Sklar

Berkowitz-Sklar’s photos while in Japan.

Naiko helped me grasp a concept that carried me through my backpacking journey. Plans can go awry very easily, and it’s an emotional instinct to keep that ball rolling: cursing, getting upset and ruining the rest of your day. Yet, the most enriching and valuable experiences I had were when things didn’t work out, and I had to calm my frustration or loneliness and take the initiative to come up with a spontaneous journey. Adapting to your situation is more important than allowing it to smother you.

A few months later, on my first night in Taiwan, I headed out to Taipei for Halloween with some people I met at my hostel. It was very late, and as we waited for the train back, I noticed a guy around my age walking in my direction with incredibly long, nice hair and a cool vibe. 

Smiling because I knew it was kind of weird, I stopped him and told him that I loved his hair. He laughed and dapped me up. We took the same train, and upon talking, we realized that we had a lot in common. He ended up inviting me to join him for the day with his friends a couple of days later, and we spent hours hiking, rock climbing, and exploring mountain villages. 

Courtesy of Julian Berkowitz-Sklar

Berkowitz-Sklar’s photos in Taiwan.

He was one of the best friends I made on my trip, and we hope to meet backpacking in Eastern Europe. I learned that social complexity can be a cloud of overthinking that follows you everywhere, but understanding it can help you discover incredible people and experiences.” 

Goals and aspirations for the future

After his gap year, Berkowitz-Sklar wishes to explore different places and be immersed in new experiences.

“Whether that be in my personal life, i.e. traveling, friends, mentality, or clubs and classes, I want to experience a variety of things. I’m trying my best to not narrow myself down yet and allow myself to learn new skills and absorb as much as I can and I’m incredibly appreciative of the opportunities I’ve been provided and people that have helped guide me,” Berkowitz-Sklar said.

Having met countless new people on his trips and creating brand-new friendships, Berkowitz-Sklar looks forward to his future adventures.

“I have no idea [where I’m going to be or what I’m going to do in five years]. And I’m completely fine with that. Each to their own – some people are comfortable with planning concretely ahead of time and others like to decide as time goes on,” he said. “I’m still learning the value of flexibility and adaptability, and while I have emotional and physical goals, I want to enjoy the present and allow my aspirations to unfold naturally.”