Top ten reasons for taking a Gap Year
1. See the World
There’s so much of the world you can see if you have a whole year to travel and explore. This opportunity is not going to present itself again- MAKE THE MOST OF IT! The world is your oyster so get out there!
2. Develop new skills and qualifications
Use your gap year as an opportunity to develop new skills that can be transferred to your university life or future career. By volunteering on your gap year you will gain many skills that will give you that edge over others, on both UCAS and job applications.
By choosing any of i-to-i’s teaching or community work projects you will be trained in the art of TEFL. You will have an internationally accredited qualification that will not only look good on your CV, but will be yours for life.
3. Experience new cultures
Experiencing new cultures and meeting new people is what travelling is all about. By immersing yourself in different cultures you will gain new perspectives and a better understanding of the world.
4. Challenge yourself
Climb that mountain, swim with the sharks, teach English, make new friends, build a wall of a house, care for lion cubs, take a local bus, trek through the jungle, learn a language…there are so many ways that a gap year will challenge you. As a bonus, each challenge you overcome will be a new story to tell on your return- or in an interview. Really, think of how innovative your answer will be when you’re asked “Tell me of a time you overcame a challenge.”
5. Make a difference
You really can use your gap year to make a difference. You will quickly realise that even small things can make a big difference, such as using locally owned accommodation and shopping in locally owned shops. But by choosing to volunteer whilst on your gap year you can make a real difference to the community you’re in- whether you help to build a house, teach the children English or help to preserve the wildlife.
6. Boost your confidence
Travelling on a gap year will undoubtedly boost your confidence. You will find yourself in lots of different situations and you will meet many different types of people. As you learn to cope in any situation your travels throw at you and you find yourself effortlessly making friends, you will learn that you are capable of more than you thought.
7. Have fun
This is your year so make sure you have fun and enjoy it! On a gap year, you’ll meet great new people, have all sorts of adventures and get to take part in plenty of activities- from learning to tango to going white-water rafting.
8. Because it’s so easy to do
Taking a gap year has never been so easy! They’ve become socially acceptable, even encouraged, and round the world tickets make it easy and affordable to visit the places your parents have only dreamt of.
9. Earn money
As well as spending money you can also earn money on your gap year (although I can’t guarantee you won’t spend it all before you get back home!). There are plenty of opportunities to teach English abroad or work on a working holiday visa.
10. Why not?
Seriously, why not? This is possibly the only opportunity you are going to have in your life when you can take off for a year and do exactly what you want to do! Don’t let the opportunity pass you by and live to regret it. How many times have you heard someone say something along the lines of “I wish I’d had the chance to take a gap year”?
More Gap Year Articles
<<Learn to Dive on Your Gap Year How to Mentally Prepare Yourself for Your Gap Year>>
