With college becoming increasingly expensive and young people seeking to prioritize experiences over rushing into a career too fast, gap years are a fast forming trend with a variety of opinions surrounding them. Some people worship Gap Years while others look at them as a waste of time or even in some cases, as a professional leap off a cliff. It takes courage to take a step back in life, at any part of it, and decide to take a year off – especially when it is still not the socially accepted, “normal” path to take.
The thing is, every single Gap Year looks different. Some people take the time to travel, others use it to create art, and some commit to volunteer work. Some folks take a break between high school and college, some between college and a career, and others during major life or career shifts. The societal fear is that if you take a Gap Year, you’ll “never return to college” or you’ll “have too big of a gap in your resume.” But let’s realistically look at those fears:
“You’ll never want to go back to school if you take a year off” – My initial thought with this is always, is that a bad thing? College is expensive and can be a big waste of resources if you’re not even sure what you want out of it. There are plenty of ways to find fulfillment and success in life without going to school for it – getting experience and certifications, networking and making connections, building portfolios and showing the world your abilities are all options for furthering yourself career-wise. Essentially, I’m saying that if you take a Gap Year and discover a life you are passionate about and could potentially monetize, then you do not need college for that! You just need some initiative and grit!
My second thought is, if a person takes that year off and realizes that they really do crave more of a structure to life or are actually interested in studying biology after learning how to scuba dive, for example, then they WILL go back to school. The opportunity to go to college never goes away. It will always be there. Sure, maybe it won’t be the same crazy “college experience” like it would’ve been right out of high school, but in my opinion, going with intention and knowing that you are investing money in yourself and your education, is a far better use of time and resources.
“You’ll have too big of a gap in your resume and no one will want to hire you” – Straight up, this will not be a problem if you utilize your Gap Year properly! Volunteering is something to put on a resume, selling art you created is something to put on your resume, traveling and planning your own itineraries is something to put on your resume. Although these additions may not always be the most professional things, they show character, creativity, worldly skills, and will at the very least get you an interview if it piques the right person’s interest.
There are always going to be people who look down on your decision to take a Gap Year and there are always going to be people supporting the idea or saying how they wish they’d taken one. Even if you feel set in your path right now, you never know when the rug might get pulled out from under you and you need a bit of time to recover and discover some new life options.
Finding Your Path: Ask Yourself These Questions
“Do I want a Gap Year or do I just not want to go to college?” – For graduating high schoolers, this is the FIRST question to ask yourself. You need to figure out if you’re truly willing to take time off to explore your passions, save up money, and at the very least, commit to something, OR are you just not that into school so you’d rather not go. If it is the latter, then without a doubt your Gap Year will consist of you sitting at home, watching Netflix, complaining about being bored, and you will wish you went to college because it’s a productive (or entertaining) use of your time. But, if you can dream up a legitimate plan for your Gap Year that you will stick to, then by all means shoot for the moon!
“What would I do if I thought no one would judge me?” – Societal standards play a huge part in the kindergarten to career mindset, especially in the US. Many people fall into schools or majors or careers that they took on simply because they knew no one would question them about it or because it’s commonly considered “successful.” Because, as much as people won’t admit it, at the end of the day, everyone wants to flex their successes and they don’t want to feel as though others see them as a failure. So, ask yourself what you would do if that societal judgment went away completely… and do that for your Gap Year!
“Am I proud of my decision and plans moving forward?” – Finally, with whatever you decide to do, take pride in it! If people start talking down on your decision will you be able to let their comments roll off your back? If someone attacks your choice, are you prepared to defend it? It’s okay if sometimes you second guess yourself, but at the end of the day, it is your life not anyone else’s. You have to go full force into your Gap Year without shame, rather with excitement and grit!
Gap Year Options
So, I’ve been hyping up taking a Gap Year but what should you actually DO for your Gap Year? Well, the simple answer is that you should do anything and everything you want to! This is your time for exploring yourself, finding your passions, and trying new things. For example, when I thought about a Gap Year, my mind immediately went to travel. It is something I always dreamed about and I wanted to take time to dive into that passion. But, what I didn’t anticipate was that along the way I would also get random jobs and meet people who would teach me that I ALSO love bartending, taking photos, event planning, designing tattoos, blogging, reading, and more!
If you’re still feeling lost on this decision, here’s a quick outline of options for you 🙂
- If you like TRAVEL try:
- A Working Holiday in Australia! You can stay for up to a year in Australia trying all sorts of different jobs on this visa, from yachting to bartending to mining. Learn more about this option in my blog post HERE
- A work exchange through Worldpackers! Worldpackers connects you with hosts around the world in need of volunteers at their farms, hostels, retreats, vineyards, etc. It will often act as a cultural exchange with you receiving free accommodation, tours, or food in exchange for your help.
- Take a non-traditional class! One example of this is completing a 200-hour yoga certification in Bali, Indonesia. There are endless programs available in different parts of the island at different prices depending on your budget.
- Sign up for an organized Gap Year! If you’re nervous about heading out all on your own, there are countless group trips or organized Gap Years available to book. One program I looked at before deciding to travel solo was EF Gap Year.
- If you like CREATING ART try:
- Selling your work at local markets! Reach out to market organizers, sign up for your own booth, make connections with other creators and sell your beautiful pieces locally.
- Develop a website! This can often take a lot of effort and sometimes money to develop, but even selling on Etsy can be a good start to an online presence.
- Exploring and developing your skills! Invest in new hobbies and materials, learn new methods, and take the time to find what strikes your fancy other than the things you’re already used to.
- Work for a tattoo shop! Either get an apprenticeship learning how to tattoo or sell your designs to a shop/ individual. You can even find work taking design commissions if you get your profile out in the world.
- Volunteer at a community theater! Local theaters are always looking for staff and crew and it’s a great way to build a community and create a great piece of live art.
- If you like SAVING MONEY try:
- Applying for jobs! Ideally go for a job where you could get a solid promotion or climb the ladder to a position you one day want to have.
- Ask your current boss about your potential for a promotion or mentorship! A good way of saving more money is by earning more money. See if your current employer is seeking a new manager or even ask if they’d be willing to show you the ropes of their position. It never hurts to ask for these kinds of opportunities.
- Work odd jobs! This is a great way of saving money while also exploring your interests. Programs like Occupation Wild are great, otherwise, apply for jobs with election offices, thrift stores, festivals or even make money from dog walking.
- Learn how to optimize your money! There is no shame in not understanding credit score, types of cards, investments, or budgets. But, if you want more money, then take the time to learn these things. Read books, talk to others, or even meet with a banker to help you out.
- If you like VOLUNTEERING try:
- Getting active with volunteer activities in your neighborhood! Gather donations on GoFundMe, organize a trash cleanup with friends, post events on Facebook, or join a program you are passionate about. There are endless options for getting active in making your local community better.
- Use your knowledge! If you have an education or certification, use it to provide free access to whatever your skill is. For example, teaching, coaching, providing basic medical care, or caring for animals are all great uses of gained knowledge.
- If you like LEARNING try:
- Teaching yourself how to cook! Buy some cookbooks and get started. This is an important life skill to take some time to improve at any point in life.
- Practicing a new language! Learn the basics and then start buying books, watching movies, and listening to music in that language. Hearing it everyday will help more than you think.
- Try out some local classes! ClassPass is a great option for trying out new workout classes. Other options include finding local dance classes, yoga studios, or circus lessons.
- Focus on Meditation and Mindfulness! Hone your emotions and reactions by taking some time to gather yourself and learn how to soothe, cope, and calm yourself when living life.
Hopefully some of these things inspire you! Even if you aren’t looking to take a Gap Year, it never hurts to try new things and expand your knowledge. For me, taking a Gap Year after high school was the best decision I could have made for myself. Although I still have no plans of heading to college (some people’s worst fears), I have deepened my passion for travel and am giving myself time to invest in this passion. There are a lot of directions the travel industry can take a person and I have faith that my Gap Year is leading me to the path I am meant to be on. As I said earlier in this post, college is not going away and if I reach a point where I feel it will benefit me, then I will go. But first, I am putting my trust in myself and in the world.
A Gap Year is not a professional leap off a cliff and it is not a waste of time for many people. This is not to say college is wrong. I am only trying to show that there are so many options available in this life, so truly consider what is going to be best for you. Don’t live the life other people want – live the life YOU want!!
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Sylvia's Gap Year 