Taking a gap year

Deciding which direction to take your life is always tricky – perhaps never more so than after school.

It is so easy to fall into the trap of feeling everyone else is much more 'sorted' and resolute. This can leave you floundering.

With the job market as it is for young people at the moment, it is essential that you arm yourself accordingly and endeavour to make yourself all the more appealing, for universities and/or future employers.

The best thing to do therefore is to sit quietly, have a think and do some research.

Although it can be a scary prospect, there is nothing more freeing that being spontaneous, grabbing an opportunity with both hands and committing to something extraordinary.

A gap-year can be just that.

Of course it’s not for everyone and it should never be considered solely in its base-form, that is, an extended holiday.

You reap what you sow when it comes to any structured opportunity and therefore it is essential that you are committed – whole heartedly - to the cause. It can’t be stressed enough that, if undertaken lightly, a gap-year is so easily wasted.

Embrace the planning of your time away – research is key - as there is simply so much available to you; so many companies, cities, countries, continents to choose from...

This is where the internet and reference books such as the gap-year guidebook prove their worth, providing useful, information and unbiased advice.

Nothing is more valuable than personal experience, and it certainly is recommended that any reviews be read through, so to learn the positive and negative aspects of a person’s experience – be it of an organisation, a hostel, a backpack – drink up all the information you can.

Knowing yourself and your own capabilities will help too; be aware of what will hold your interest for a particular stretch of time, your strengths, your weaknesses and what you hope to achieve – but equally, don’t let any of the above hold you back, sometimes it’s the most challenging situations that harvest the biggest rewards.

The most popular choice of activity for a gap-year is volunteering, with teaching placements specifically having risen by 20% in the last few years.

Perhaps though, you’re more intent on exploring activities you’ve so far not had the time to pursue - yoga, art, photography, a new language or particular places, religions and cultures.

It sounds cheesy, but the world really is your oyster.

Another important option to consider, of course, is the abundant environmental and conservationist opportunities available.

Whether you’re working to protect a particular animal, a particular area or indeed, working with people living in unbelievable poverty and disease – it will, inevitably, be not only a humbling experience but an enriching one too.

Time away between school and university – whether it stretch over the 3 month holiday or the following academic year in its entirety – can be just what just what you need to relax, refresh and refocus.

It may be that some take time to readjust to academic life on their return, but ‘gappers’ are generally considered to be more responsible and socially conscious, allowing them to take a mature outlook on their studies and make a greater contribution to their course.

Employers admit that they actively seek to recruit those who have taken a structured gap-year because of the key-skills they will have acquired – namely teamwork and improved perspective, communication and independent thinking.

A gap-year is not just a chance to get brown, meet lots of people and pick up some bargains – these just happen to be added extras. You must think carefully about whether or not it is a feasible option for you and whether or not you will use the experience to your utmost advantage.

It can be a wonderful thing to do – memorable, meaningful and masses of fun – just make sure you equip yourself appropriately and aim to research your options to the fullest extent.

 The gap-year guidebook 2012 (£14.99) can be purchased from all major bookstores and will be available from November 2011. It is the 20th edition and contains everything you need to know about taking a gap-year or year out, with a chapter dedicated to those considering a career break.

In the meantime, please have a little look at our website www.gap-year.com for some more information.