There are so many angles to think about when considering a GAP year or not.  Your friends will have their views and ideas – and thus it is easy to get caught up in ‘over thinking’.  My own view is that I see the GAP year as a year of having the breathing space to explore and try things that will teach you something valuable.  Learning skills; meeting new people; being exposed to new ideas and places – the list is endless.  GAP years are not necessarily perfect, and often it is in the things that go wrong, where there is the greatest memories created!  I do find that students who have had GAP years are really ready to start studying again and do so with a level of maturity and focus.  

When making decisions about the next chapter ahead, I often repeat the phrase “there is no absolute perfect answer” just start, and trust that you will figure it out along the way.  

It is the making of the decision that can take up so much energy but in my experience, once a decision is taken then somehow things do start falling into place.  GAP years are about figuring things out too – and often in the unknowns so unintended and memorable adventures happen.  Trust in that there is always learning along the way! 

If you have planned for a GAP year, understand from the outset that it does not have to look like a ‘perfect’ year.  Every path that you take will have some qualities that are not so great, and there are going to be other aspects that are beyond wonderful.  There will be the ups and downs, the good and then not so good.   

In support of taking a GAP year and from the perspective of the desk at Branching Out, some advantages that I notice include:

Students are a tad maturer and ready to settle into their studies; and future employees are always interested in your GAP year!;

I find that those starting at University are able to handle the freedom of parties and drinking in a much steadier way;

They have something really interesting to talk about beyond ‘what school did you go to and what were your results’ –  and this is an instant conversational starter too at Freshers Week;

Having worked and travelled – encountering difficulties along the way – many have discovered their inner resources of resilience and capability – and as a result have developed the skills of figuring things out!:

Having managed themselves for a year they will have learnt to plan and  budget – all useful for when starting out at university or in the world of work; 

Being used to meeting with others from all walks of life – you learn the gift of engaging easily with people whom you have never met before.  

And, you learn to trust yourself.  When you venture into unknown territory, you ‘get lost’.  You get to know that you can find a way out.  This is such valuable learning.  

IF YOU ARE taking the GAP year and have yet to have concrete plans in place, that is ALRIGHT!  What I would say thought is:

PLAN for something at the very START of it.  This could be a very short course (our eldest son started with a 3 day bartending course) or a trip to any new city (and you will meet other young people in the youth hostels who are feeling as unsure as you are!).  As with so many things in life, it is the getting started that takes up a lot of energy … so just get going.  Take a deep breath and make the decision for yourself without being too swayed by the chatter of what your friends are doing. 

Also spend time reflecting on your INTENTIONS  for this year ahead.  How will you want to feel at the end of it? What do you NOT want your GAP year to be like?  What would you like to accomplish during this time?  What is the real reason behind wanting to take this direction?  – and have this to keep pulling you forward.  

Trust too that you WILL gain confidence as you go.  You WILL meet new people and hear about ideas that will be exciting possibilities for you.  Allow for flexibility and manoeuvrability in  your planning as so often there will be somewhere that you had not previously heard of that you would like to discover for yourself or an unexpected opportunity will come your way.  

Do the GAP year YOUR way.  This is YOUR time and you are building YOUR path.  

Your GAP year is there to engages you; equip you; empowers you; grow your curiosity and independence – and this happens.  Trust your journey.