Why Take a Gap Year and What Should You Get Out of It?

When you move from an old chapter like high school or college, to a new one, like the unknown, it can be scary, exciting, and challenging all in one. The transition to university or the workforce can be a huge adventure of what-ifs and how-to’s. The clear component of all this is that there’s no one solution for everyone. With so many options now than ever before, a year in between university and high school could be just what you need to recalibrate and establish what you really want. Enter, the gap year.

Gap years are great for young people who have the time and space to evaluate their desires and who they are in the world. It’s a time to explore beyond the four walls of their parent’s home or the school environment. There’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored and full of people to meet and sights to see. Sadly, there’s a stigma surrounding gap years and taking time off to travel. With so many people believing that a gap year means giving up on university, parents fear their children won’t find the motivation yet students say that their gap year actually helped them be more prepared.

Here are some of the main benefits of a gap year:

Grow as a person, Build character

Gap years are great for figuring out your hobbies, interests, and passions. They’re a perfect way to escape the hustle and grind of everyday living and give you a new opportunity to explore other options for studying. In high school, you’re only exposed to so many subjects, but in a gap year, you can pursue a special focus like cooking, art, language, skiing and culture. It gives you a chance to test your passions outside the classroom walls.

It’s not going to happen again when you’re at a time with little responsibility and things to think about or worry about. Your bills are basically non-existent at this point in your life and that changes within a few years. Even when you reach university, you’ll be encumbered by bills, schoolwork, career focus, and other responsibilities. Your gap year is your only time to experience freedom beyond school and work. The gap year gives you the chance to broaden your horizons before student debt takes its hold on your finances.

Clarify life goals and career direction

It can be hard to determine what to study in university, especially if you haven’t been exposed to many career options or realms of study. Heading straight to school in this unsure mindset can do more harm than good. Spending a gap year abroad can actually help you refine what it is exactly that you want and how you can go about it. You’ll be more clear-headed away from regular life and be freer to choose a major or career track. With more free time to reflect and ponder what it is you really want, you won’t be jumping into a decision that can affect the rest of your life.

Statistically, gap years can be beneficial to students looking to study or work abroad. The Gap Year Association reported that 84% of respondents to their study said their time abroad gave them the skills to succeed in work. It gets better. According to the stats, 77% said their gap year helped them find their purpose in life, 75% said it helped them get a job, and 73% reported their gap year helped them prepare for university.

Gain new skills

It’s a fact that most employers are looking for culturally aware individuals, adaptable employees, and people who know how and are willing to collaborate with people from global areas. A gap year program forces you to adapt to a new environment and gain skills before you even head into a university class. Your gap year program is a great benefit and an added plus on your resume and can signify to future employers, and universities, that you gained unique skills and experiences that certain employers can’t offer. With your gap year experience, you’re able to develop life skills that will stay with you forever. This could mean learning a new language, developing interpersonal skills and communication skills, and becoming more of a leader. It could also mean the hands-on experience that’s invaluable.

When people think gap year, they’re quick to think of a semester of being drunk on a boat somewhere. This is quite the contrary to what’s actually gained during a gap year. Many students opt for more educational time off in international study, internships, or volunteer programs. With so many organized gap year programs that fulfill students' needs, you’ll be able to feel like your time isn’t wasted and you’re living a more purpose-filled life.

Connect with the outdoors

When people connect to nature, they’re proven to become happier and healthier than those who aren’t connected to nature. Increased exposure to the elements is a great way to feel better and more fulfilled. Health improves, joy levels increase, and confidence increases.

Being outside through your gap year program gives you the added benefits of constantly being in nature and among the beauty of the world. Surrounded by nature and your peers, you’ll learn self-esteem and confidence and develop greater levels of joy and well-being. This is an opportunity that educates, inspires, and allows you to grow aligned with the natural environment.

We hope that this has helped give you some insight to how a gap year may help you. There can be quite a bit of planning involved and we've put together a handbook to guide you through the main elements you need to think about. Check out our article, "The 5 Essential Considerations For Your Gap Year" to learn more.

Thank you

We appreciate your time reading through this and hope that it helps your planning and time away. As you’ve probably seen, we run ski instructor training programs in Japan for everyone regardless of experience level. More importantly we believe in getting out there and personally know how much it takes for the first step. If you have any detailed questions about your specific situation please contact us as we’re here to help. Reach us here: https://www.seasonworkers.com/profile/contact/project-snow-5318.aspx