As I was on the brink of high school graduation and the start of a new phase of life, the future was equivocal. The natural progression seemed to be to attend college, without a clear reason why.
Choosing the right college and selecting a major were baffling. I observed my peers making these decisions with seeming ease, and the confusion within me multiplied because I felt like I was missing out on some untold secret.
However, circumstances have a way of working themselves out, and today, I am content in my current position. Yet, I wonder if, like countless other students, I could have taken advantage of a gap year.
Do you know the classmates who appeared to have everything planned out? Many didn’t. They moved schools, switched their courses, dropped out, or set upon different career routes. None of this is a negative reflection on them! Let’s be real, how many eighteen-years-old are certain about their lifelong career choice.
One of the profound advantages of a gap year is the additional time afforded to deliberate on your life’s direction. However, a gap year isn’t the optimum choice for everyone, so do read on to make a well-informed decision tailored to your situation.
What is a Gap Year?
If you’ve chanced upon this article, you probably already have an understanding of what a gap year entails. However, let me offer a brief description for context. Essentially, a gap year is an intermission taken between high school and college, providing a breather from academic pursuits.
A plethora of options are available to you during a gap year, as we will explore in the following lines. According to the research conducted by The Gap Year Association, a gap year could serve as a compass towards finding your true calling by integrating the ensuing four aspects:
- Identifying the activities that spark your passion
- Pinpointing what the world requires
- Acknowledging your innate talents and skills
- And lastly, recognizing what could yield a financial return.
What Do You Do During a Gap Year?
The paramount intent of a gap year lies in self-discovery and forming a clearer perspective about one’s life path. Regardless of your choice of activities during this time-out, it furnishes the opportunity to reflect with fewer constraints.
Undertaking a gap year can be an autonomous journey or through an organized gap year scheme. Having a plan, albeit a broad one, is crucial for an effective gap year. While it invites living unconstrained and journeying through experiences, setting minor objectives aids in giving the year structure. If you’re planning your gap year independently, we’ve encompassed the most prevalent gap year engagements below.
Travel
This is indeed the quintessential gap year endeavor and most likely aligns with your mental image of this interim. Picture yourself traversing the globe, backpacking across Europe, encountering new faces, and using this occasion to discern who you really are and what stirs your enthusiasm.
Gap year travels can vastly broaden your horizons and acquaint you with diverse cultures. The benefits accrued from traveling are multitudinous, and the break between high school and college might just be the most opportune moment for you to satiate your desire for journeying.
Work
While some individuals may need to work during their gap year due to monetary grounds, it’s paramount not to perceive these jobs as your ultimate career path. (Unless, of course, you discover true passion in your work; if this is the case, congratulations, you have already pinpointed your direction!) It’s quite feasible to secure part-time employment for sustenance, even if work is not the primary purpose of your gap year.
If your main focus is indeed employment, a pragmatic approach would be to seek work in the field you intend to study. This could aid in affirming your choice, thereby reducing doubts, or alternatively help you realize a different major may be more appropriate. It might also provide valuable experience and networking opportunities. Thus, upon your college graduation, while applying for those ‘entry-level jobs’ that demand years of experience, you’ll find yourself one step ahead of your peers who didn’t take a gap year.
Additionally, many individuals opt to work during their gap year with the aim of saving money for college. This is an excellent strategy as it allows you to mature before commencing college, while also helping to mitigate future student loan debt.
Volunteer
Volunteer tourism, frequently referred to as “voluntourism”, proves to be transformative for many students who embark on a gap year. Some decide to become part of the Peace Corps, go on extended mission trips or engage in other forms of altruism. Remember, volunteering is not confined to foreign settings.
Quite often, students discover significant needs right within their local communities, if they simply choose to observe. Whether it’s serving at a nearby soup kitchen or constructing an orphanage in Haiti, witnessing the fortunes you possess in contrast with others can catalyze a significant metamorphosis in your perspective and future plans. This realization can become a key factor in deciding the trajectory of your life.
Work on Yourself
Indeed, this could potentially be the first time in your life where you are solely answerable to yourself. You’re momentarily free from examinations, homework, house chores, training sessions, etc., offering a perfect opportunity for self-discovery away from external pressures.
Use this time to venture into uncharted territories such as immersing yourself in a novel you’d never ordinarily pick up, mastering a new skill, broadening your social circle to include those whose experiences differ from yours. Perhaps you envision spending a year in solitude, writing in the wilderness, embodying your inner Thoreau, or devoting your undivided attention to dance. A gap year provides you the liberty to pursue these interests without external pressures.
This journey can be instrumental in uncovering your true passion. As you focus on self-improvement, you may discover a deep love for working with animals. Noticing the struggles of those around you, you realize many could benefit from the comforting presence of animals.
You can consequently dedicate this time to hone your skills in training and working with animals. Then, you might even formulate a business plan to supply therapy animals for short or long-term periods to those in need. Thus, upon attending college, you’ll have both a purpose and a solid plan in place.
Pros of Taking a Gap Year
- You can evolve into a stronger individual. Participating in activities such as adventuring, employment, offering service, and self-improvement aids you in transforming into an improved version of yourself, and assists in revealing your true character. Approaching college as an assertive individual with a profound self-perception can elevate your entire academic life.
- You can enjoy a pause from academics. Occasionally, you necessitate a pause, particularly after dedicating 12+ years to education. Research by Andrew J. Martin, Rachel Wilson, Gregory Arief D. Liem, and Paul Ginns for The Journal of Higher Education indicated that a sabbatical year actually correlates with achievement and prosperity in university. After having a respite, you’ll feel refreshed and prepared to embrace your academic venture.
- It’s a wise financial decision. As previously mentioned, you can employ your sabbatical year to earn a living, thereby reducing your financial stress whilst you’re studying. Another monetary benefit is that you acquire more time to decide on your course of study upon your return, thus avoiding spending on an education which might not be useful in the future. Some pupils require more than five years to earn their bachelor’s degree due to change in their area of study; a sabbatical year can avert this issue.
- You have the opportunity to develop maturity. Perhaps you hadn’t quite gotten your act together during high school and recognized late the importance of shaping your own future. Instead of compromising for an institute that’s still open for admissions in the spring, utilize the gap year to widen your possibilities. You can apply during the summertime and fall to colleges you genuinely aspire to attend, all the while traveling or earning additional income to support your tuition fees. You’ll step into university as a more mature individual, and can evade errors that might have been committed a year prior.
Cons of Taking a Gap Year
- Returning to academics may not materialize. This is a prominent rationale many people cite when discouraging students from taking a gap year. Transitioning back to academic life can be challenging after enjoying a period of independence without academic pressures. It’s easy to get comfortable with a newfound lifestyle, and it may prove difficult to motivate oneself to resume studies. Some individuals may prefer a relaxed pace of life discovered during their gap year; others might relish earning a living and resist giving up that independence to resume academics. To circumvent this dilemma, draft a comprehensive plan for your gap year and adhere to it.
- Societal judgement. Unfortunately, this disadvantage holds true for many. If you opt for a gap year, you may encounter negative comments from acquaintances or family who don’t view a gap year favorably. They might perceive it as laziness or an excuse to evade academics. Developing a thick skin or readiness to enlighten them about the merits of a gap year may be necessary.
- Financial challenges. Though a gap year presents opportunities to earn, it can also usher in financial stress contingent on how you intend to spend your time. If you foresee money causing stress, prepare well in advance to mitigate this disadvantage.
- Missed experiences with peers. During your gap year, most of your buddies will likely embark on their college journey, causing a mismatch in your academic timelines. You may miss out on bonding moments like starting college simultaneously, partaking in spring break trips, and the eventual graduation ceremony. Remember though, a gap year practically guarantees making new friends, and the prospects it offers are boundless.
Final Thoughts
Despite the numerous benefits that a gap year offers, it isn’t a suitable choice for everyone. You shouldn’t hastily opt for it simply out of exhaustion from exam preparations or uncertainty about future decisions.
If after deliberate consideration, you’ve decided to embark on a gap year journey, the Gap Year Association offers a wealth of resources to assist in planning every facet of your gap year.