Whatever your plans and ideas for life after high school, there’s one thing we’re willing to wager a large amount of money on – you’ll definitely be ready for a break!
It’s completely natural (and highly recommended) to take a rest period before you get stuck into your ‘next big thing.’ In fact, tonnes of high school students decide to take a gap year before diving into university or the workforce. That way, they feel refreshed and ready to go when transitioning into the next phase of their lives!
However, before committing to such a long and well-deserved break, you might find yourself asking, ‘Should I take a gap year?’ After all, it is a big decision! That’s why we’re dedicating this whole article to dissecting the idea of taking a gap year: to help you decide if a gap year is a good idea for you!
What Is a Gap Year?
For those who haven’t heard the term before, a gap year is a period of experiential learning that’s usually taken between high school graduation and starting higher education. Essentially, gap years give you a much-needed break from academics and help you learn more about yourself before deciding what kind of education and career pathways you want to pursue.
Although referred to as a ‘year,’ a gap year doesn’t have to be a full twelve-month period. It could be less, or it could be more – it’ll come down to what you end up doing with your time.
What to Do in a Gap Year
When you begin to hear people discussing their gap year plans, you’ll notice that travel is a very popular option for those putting off higher education and work. Most teens have had their schedules dominated by classes, tests, exams, homework, and assignments; a gap year spent travelling is your chance to put all that to one side and experience a little more freedom for a change!
However, it’s important to note that travel-based gap years don’t all look the same. Those looking for travelling gap year ideas could spend their time:
- Travelling internationally with friends.
- Taking a #vanlife vacation across beautiful, remote locations in Australia.
- Solo travelling and reflecting upon what you want in life.
- Volunteering overseas by offering your time to help a good cause.
- Working overseas on a working holiday visa.
And if spending all that time abroad doesn’t pique your interest, worry not! There are tonnes of other options for those wanting to take a gap year without leaving the comfort of their hometown. Instead of jumping on a plane, you could try these gap year ideas:
- Volunteering for a cause you’re passionate about.
- Landing an internship to gain real-world work and life experience.
- Committing to a creative passion project.
- Working full or part-time just to take a break from studying.
There are no rules when it comes to your gap year. It’s your chance to decide how you want to spend your time and get to know yourself a little better before jumping into a career!
5 Benefits of Doing a Gap Year
Aside from being a great opportunity to figure out what you really want from life, a gap year offers tonnes of other personal and professional benefits. A few of our favourites are:
#1 Gain Some Perspective
School is great, but there are plenty of lessons that you can only learn by experiencing more of the world! A gap year can help you gain a valuable perspective on life and where you might want it to go.
#2 Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
It’s easy to fall into old routines and habits and forget that there’s a whole world of possibilities out there! By taking a gap year, you’re opening yourself up to new experiences and tonnes of opportunities for personal growth.
#3 Improve Your Planning and Organisation Skills
There’s no better opportunity to level up your soft skills than by planning your very own gap year. Whether it’s through volunteering your time or travelling, you’ll be developing a broad range of excellent life skills that will help you in the future (both in and outside of work)!
#4 Help Others and Develop Cultural Awareness
If you dedicate your gap year to volunteering, working, or interning, you’ll be working with plenty of new people from all walks of life! This presents a valuable opportunity to learn about others and develop your awareness of other cultures and communities.
#5 Boost Your Confidence
There’s nothing like getting out there and living life on your own terms to help boost your confidence. Sure, you’ll probably make a few mistakes along the way, but that’s all part of the learning process! Embrace your gap year as an opportunity for trial and error.
FAQ: All About Gap Years
We know, this all sounds a little too good to be true, but there really is no catch, we promise! However, just in case you have any doubts or burning questions that we’ve left unanswered, we’ve also put together a list of frequently asked questions all about gap years!
Question: If I take a gap year, will I lose my university offer?
Answer: No – most universities will allow you to defer your university offer for up to three semesters. However, every university is different, so you’ll need to ask in order to make sure.
Question: Will employers penalise me for having a gap on my resume?
Answer: It all depends on how you spend your time. If you’ve been sitting around home playing games, it’ll be a hard sell. However, if you spent your gap year travelling, volunteering, or working, you’ll have gained lots of valuable soft and hard skills!
Question: Is taking a gap year worth it?
Answer: That is entirely dependent on what you want to get out of it! There are a lot of benefits, but it can also mean putting your career plan on hold. We recommend doing some research and speaking to others who have taken a gap year to help you learn all about the pros and cons.
Question: How to explain a gap year in an interview?
Answer: There’s no reason to overthink it. Be honest and share all of your positive experiences and the things you learned while taking some time off. Chances are that your future employer will appreciate the hard and soft skills you learned during your gap year!
Question: Does a gap year affect your ability to apply for university?
Answer: In short, not at all! If you decide to commit to a degree after your gap year, all you need to do is fill out the forms like anyone else. However, you’ll need all of your academic info from high school, so make sure you don’t lose it!
Question: Can you get financial aid after a gap year?
Answer: Great news! Your eligibility for financial aid won’t be affected by whether or not you decide to take a gap year. That means you can take a year off without worrying about supporting yourself when or if you return to studying.
Spend Your Gap Year With DESI!
If you’re looking to spend your gap year in Australia, a great option is to pursue the First Nations Gap Year Program offered by the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation!
The program is designed to help participants explore a range of occupations and build their career options. If you choose to spend your gap year with DESI, you can expect to be:
- Learning key skills such as office etiquette, personal branding, and Office 365.
- Sharing experiences and learning from others.
- Visiting exciting locations such as the Eco Sciences Precinct, State Library of Queensland, and Queensland Museum.
And much more!
