You might hear talk about the fabled gap year around the school yard, but not really understand what it’s all about. Well, for some people it’s basically a well deserved brain break after completing high school or university (or even several years in the same job). Quite simply it’s when you take some time out of your regular life or routine to concentrate on yourself.
The best time to take a gap year
In an ideal world, you’d take a gap year when you’ve finished one project or life chapter, before starting the next. For example, once you’ve finished Year 12 you might like to take a gap year before you start your uni degree. Or after you’ve completed your tertiary studies, a gap year before you start working could be perfect for you.
But realistically, there is no right or wrong time; you can even take gap years once you’ve started working (terms may vary depending on your employer).
Gap year ideas
Got itchy feet? You could travel. Need more life experience? No problem, you could learn new languages and skills, or contribute to worthwhile projects and volunteer to help others.
Perhaps you just need to make some money so that you can afford to continue on the pathway you’ve chosen without accumulating huge debts. Not only would you reap the financial rewards, you’d also benefit from getting work experience, improving your employability skills, networking, and building on your resume.
Take the opportunity to decide what you’re looking for from future studies, career goals or other endeavours, and refocus.
Take a gap year overseas
Immerse yourself in new cultures, learn a language, and experience life from an alternative perspective. Learn to live independently and be responsible, both great qualities that will serve you well. Whether you choose to travel independently or as part of an organised tour, there’s plenty of help out there to help you make the mots of your year off.
Have a look at:
- Travel agents travel services.
- Travel sections at the local library.
- Lonely Planet and other travel guides.
- Your job options overseas.
It’s perfectly OK to go away and just be a tourist for a year too; you’ll still gain a wealth of experience and have lots of fun.
Start working
Even if you want (or need) to start working, you can still have some fun and experience new things. You could find jobs near home, in different parts of the country, or even overseas.
Things you could try include:
- Ski season and other seasonal jobs.
- Teach others – teach English overseas, tutor a subject, or teach others to play an instrument.
- Be a mentor at a Summer camp.
- Become an au pair/nanny.
- Become part of an outdoor adventure crew.
- Work at a tropical resort.
- Think about starting your own business.
No matter what kind of work you do, you’ll gain lots of valuable soft and transferable skills you can take to further study, a different job, or just to use in your everyday life.
Join a dedicated gap year program
If you’re fresh out of school, uni, or a job and just want someone else to do the thinking for you, there are heaps of dedicated gap year providers that offer all inclusive experiences – all you need to do is sign up and enjoy.
You could engage in all kinds of fun activities, meet new people, travel, gain experience, volunteer…your options are nearly endless. Here are some providers you might like to look at:
What are the benefits of taking a gap year?
There are lots. You could:
- Broaden your horizons.
- Experience new things.
- Learn new skills, including life skills.
- Uncover hidden passions or discover new ones.
- Prepare yourself for uni.
- Have adventures.
- Make yourself more appealing to potential employers.
- Experience the world outside the classroom.
- Relieve some of the pressure about the future.
- Make choices that reflect what you really want to do.
How to tell if a gap year is the right option for you
First you’ll need to give it some thought, decide what you might like to do if you took a gap year, then find out what’s involved (including time and costs).
If you’re about to finish school, you can still apply for university, then defer for a year and take a break knowing that when you come back in 12 months, your place will still be waiting for you. Just make sure you read up about deferral or leave of absence options carefully at the institution or course you’d most like to attend before booking anything.
You can also find out about applying for university when you’re no longer a school leaver, giving you some breathing space if you’re unsure about the course you really want to study right now.
Talk about it with your parents, friends, and teachers. Start doing some research and find out how you could make the most out of the opportunities available to you.
And if you don’t think it’s the right time for you, then it’s OK to shelve the idea and come back to it later if you want to.
Find out more
To find out more about gap years, you can read more on our website here.