Post by Mia Golosino

For all the insights gained from my gap year, my page has been rather dry. So here goes my belated attempt to fit it all in one post; proof that while I’ve been MIA here, I’ve been very much in action elsewhere… The original plan: get a job, apply to unis, and secure some legal work experience. What really happened: a summer holiday to the Philippines turned into the greatest plot twist of my life thus far. With zero experience, I joined the country’s most prestigious national pageant. Along the way, I probably witnessed enough drama to fill up the average tabloid magazine (I actually somehow did end up in one, along with two features in Vogue)! But since this is LinkedIn, I’ll keep things professional and talk about what I’ve learned: 1. There really is no “I” in team. Becoming a finalist as the youngest candidate and competing against seasoned pageant veterans wasn’t easy, but it was possible thanks to my team. The late-night training sessions, the early-morning call times, the mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion—there was no way I could have made it out alone. It was my first real taste of cutthroat competition, and it taught me how preparation, resilience, and focus can set you apart. As an aspiring lawyer, I’ll be no stranger to similar challenges. But I also won’t be a stranger to meaningful connections. 2. There is no greater enemy than your own self-doubt. Like pageantry, I had no prior experience in modelling; landing an editorial for Vogue Philippines as my first job was quite the surprise. While I was on set for a second editorial a couple months later, it sunk in how lucky I was to have that opportunity, but also how I wouldn’t be there if I had chosen to stay in my comfort zone back home. Reminder: impostor syndrome is a sign of having the courage to challenge yourself. What matters more is how we deal with the feeling: listen and back down, or set it aside and grow? 3. If you grew up privileged, don’t deny it. Use it to give back. After volunteering for Knowledge Channel, a non-profit dedicated to enhancing education in the Philippines, I grew increasingly more aware of the educational disparities that children shouldn’t have to face, but still do. The pageant I joined is also a charity organisation; I will never forget the children at the food kitchen we volunteered at. I thought, “How blessed I am to have had to worry about A-level exams instead of where to find my next meal.” While advocating for Early Childhood Development (ECD) and children’s education, I realised that I had no sob story to tell. I was raised by supportive parents, and I had quality education from a young age. But advocacy isn’t about having a personal struggle to share. It’s about using your skills, resources, and platform to drive change. 4. Speaking of education… A more academic outcome of my gap year was receiving an unconditional offer to study Law at LSE. I’m excited to see where this next chapter will take me.