Gap Year: A Guide

Take a gap year prior to starting college, after college or to put your life in perspective. Here are some tips to consider during your gap year.

First step in planning a gap year is to set some goals and what you’d like to achieve in the end. These goals may be associated with your personal life, relationships or your professional dreams,

Research gap year programs o figure out if there are any that match your goals and aspirations. You may choose to travel abroad, work or volunteer. This is a great time for career exploration. For students who wish to save money for college, this is a great economic option as they can work and save money throughout the year. If you need to apply for college, develop a plan and figure out how you do so during the gap year.

During gap year, it is imperative you do something productive to improve yourself. Try to develop a new life skill that will help your career path or personal life. Try to be more self-aware, learn to be a better communicator. Since you’re most likely being thrust into adulthood, develop your decision-making and problem-solving skills.

Discover a hidden passion. You may find you are great at playing a musical instrument, or you may be a talented writer or photographer.

Learn a new language. Knowing more than one language is beneficial to any and all individuals. Take the time to enroll in a language course or indulge in one of the many free language learning apps available to consumers. This new skill may open unexpected doors for you; learning a foreign language enhances a person’s listening and memory abilities.