A Gap Year: Your Next Adventure

Reported By: Ellaynah Brown

Illustrated By: Sydney Simmons

You have just finished college, graduating with stellar grades and valuable life experience, and you’re ready to use everything you have learned to take on the world. It seems as though right after you walk off that stage, degree in hand, you are expected to walk right into a job, internship, more education, and so on. Thankfully, each and every one of you has the freedom to decide your next steps. In fact, many graduates take a year off before heading onto their next adventure.

According to The Gap Year Association (GYA), more and more students are considering taking time off from academia as they see enrollment in their gap year programs climb. There is no doubt that after over 16 years of  K-12 education, in addition to four years of college, many students will choose to give themselves a break. As the GYA describes, this brief hiatus from more college, career, or otherwise allows for more “experiential learning” to take place. 

In studies done by the organization, many people who have taken a year away have seen significant self-growth and positive effects on their career and academic journeys as a whole. One study revealed that 98% of those surveyed discovered that this period helped them develop as a person, discovering more about themselves and what they valued. Additionally, 92% said that the motivation for taking a gap year was to gain life experiences and grow personally. 

In addition to more self-exploration, many respondents said they just needed a break to explore the world. It’s often hard to know what to expect after college, and a gap year allows you to take the time to think it through and explore different possibilities. 

While taking a gap year may sound like a time to relax and just go with the flow, many are still apprehensive about the idea. What will I do? Will I lose motivation?  Will I be less appealing to employers? And the answer to all of these questions can be summed up in one idea: Your gap year is what you make of it.

A gap year can give you the opportunity to learn more about the world and other cultures by taking the time to travel and make yourself a more empathetic and understanding person. You could volunteer to give a little of yourself back to the community. You could shadow professionals and take on internships to get hands-on experience without the pressure of having to stay in one spot. 

A gap year is certainly not a one-size-fits-all experience. Many people will choose to go one way or the other, and that is perfectly fine. Employers want to see someone who is well rounded and stands out from the crowd– let this time away from a structured college or work life give you the opportunity to figure out what sets you apart.