Gap year? Yes or No?
So what’s a gap year anyway? A “gap year” is a relatively novel trend where young people take off a year between high school and college (or take a semester off of college). The reasons people give for taking a “gap year” are varied. Some of them include: (1) Deepening professional and/or personal goals, (2) Clearing the mind or resetting, or (3) Taking a step back to think about life’s next phase.
- Will you remain committed after the gap year?
When deciding to take a gap year, you should ask yourself: Are you truly dedicated to pursue the next step in your professional growth once the year is over? If you answered, “yes,” to this question, then you are likely to succeed in taking the gap year. You need to know that, if you take a gap year, you will get back on your feet directly afterward–either continuing your formal education or vocational training or going straight to work in an industry you prefer.
- Are you goal-oriented and self-motivated?
Do you set deadlines and keep them or tend to lie around and “let things happen?” Are you self-driven to succeed or do you often need a push to get things done? These are certainly questions to ponder when deciding whether or not to take a gap year. Why? Because those who succeed with gap years are typically goal-oriented individuals who are self-motivated. These individuals go into their gap year not thinking of it as “time off” but rather an opportunity to set life and career goals and take action on the things that will help them grow. Does this sound like you? If so, perhaps a gap year would benefit you.
- Do you want to get career experience before you commit to an education pathway?
A gap year after high school can be a great way to get more experience in a potential career field and decide if that field is even a good fit for you. Additional experience can also make individuals more competitive and can help them land internships and jobs.
4. Do you have a plan?
Gap years must be well planned out. What’s your overall goal? What exactly will you do? Where will you live? How will you support yourself? What happens after the year is done? You should know the answers to all these questions BEFORE you start the gap year. That way, you won’t waste your time…. because we all know time is a precious commodity.
Do you think a gap year is still for you? We would love to know what you’re doing to plan for your gap year. Reach out to us on Instagram and let us know if you’re planning a gap year and exactly how you are planning to benefit from the time.