Choosing a Gap Year
For many people, childhood fades away sometime between middle school and high school, when college placement becomes a top priority. Before you know it, high school leads into college and then perhaps grad school and then you enter the workforce where you might not get much more than a 2-week break (even that’s a rarity these days) before retirement. This is precisely why many people build a “gap year” into their long-term plans.
More and more students, from those with a GED to those with university ambitions, are taking gap years between high school and whatever is next. A gap year is when the student doesn’t go straight to additional schooling or full-time employment and instead spends a year traveling, volunteering or working – anything but sitting on the couch at home 😊
When done right, a gap year can give you time to pause, recharge, and focus your thoughts on the direction you want your life to take. To ensure you get the most out of this time away from school, it is important to define a purpose and create structure for your year ahead. Here are some tips on how to do just that:
Define your “why.”
Why do you want to take a gap year? Do you want to gain new skills or experiences? See new places? Discover new cultures? While travel is a common gap year pursuit, it is not possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore; if that is your goal; consider taking a gap year later on in your college career. If your time is now, here are some alternatives:
Volunteer at a local organization aligned with your interests (animal shelter, church/place of worship, hospital visits, American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, YMCA/YWCA, Habitat for Humanity, Seniors at Home, etc.
Work Experience: You can gain relevant experience in a desired career or subject you want to study (internships or jobs) or seek paid employment to save up for college, a car, or travel once it is safe to do so.
Courses: Why not take this opportunity to try something new? Perhaps a new language, an in-demand skill like coding, design and computer programming, or learning a new practical skill. Trades jobs will always be in high demand and the pay is great; explore careers as a carpenter, plumber, electrician, roofer or painter. Some jobs, like those in the wireless industry combine several specialties. Even if you don’t apply these skills to employment, they always come in handy around the house. Many people purchase rental homes to supplement their income or build retirement savings outside of Wall Street investments; handy person skills can go a long way if you add “landlord” to your many titles.
Virtual Travel: Organizations such as Go Over Seas are offering virtual internship abroad programs, online language course programs, online opportunities to teach English, as well as online study abroad programs. Until you can safely get to Spain, France or Greece, you can fully immerse yourself in the language and culture; even while sharing your language and culture with others.