When I was doing a research project one summer in Argentina, I met a group of Australian people in their late teens, who were traveling around the world. They had covered over 20 countries in 6 months, and they were brimming with stories of travel, adventure, the experiences they’d had. They seemed older than me, although we were the same age, and so focused and excited about college in a way I no longer was. I was experiencing some educational fatigue, while they were wide awake, ready to learn. It turns out those students were taking a gap year between high school and college, so instead of going straight to university after graduating from high school they were taking some time to explore the world before jumping into higher education.
While at the time I hadn’t met many people who had taken a gap year, the practice is becoming more and more popular among students, and frankly, I can see why. Although many Indians seem to be horrified at the notion, perhaps fearing a loss of motivation or momentum, the reality is that for many students for whom a gap year is the right move find themselves far more motivated and self-directed than their non-gap-year taking counterparts. It’s true that a gap year isn’t for everyone, but for a student who has reached the end of high school and needs some time and distance away from the conventional learning styles available within educational institutions, a gap year might be the right choice, if, that is, a student has an alternate plan.
A student who takes a gap year needs to be very clear on their interests and what exactly it is they are pursuing over the course of that time. After all, it’s not time off, it’s time on, time to learn and engage in the world in a new way, time to pursue the opportunities that the rigid structure of school doesn’t allow for. So a student who wants to start their own business, or do research in a field station, or spend some time traveling and doing community service, or dance with a professional company, or whatever direction their passions point them to, is going to get a whole lot more out of a gap year then a student who wants to explore their bedroom and their television.A student who takes a gap year needs to be very clear on their interests and what exactly it is they are pursuing over the course of that time. After all, it’s not time off, it’s time on, time to learn and engage in the world in a new way, time to pursue the opportunities that the rigid structure of school doesn’t allow for. So a student who wants to start their own business, or do research in a field station, or spend some time traveling and doing community service, or dance with a professional company, or whatever direction their passions point them to, is going to get a whole lot more out of a gap year then a student who wants to explore their bedroom and their television.
If you do decide you want to take a gap year, having a plan can help you structure your time and create your own schedule. After all, that’s why you want to take one in the first place, right, for the autonomy, the chance to choose how your own education works beyond the classroom? So if this is something you are considering, having a 12 month plan, complete with goals, personal or product oriented, can really make sure you’re making the best of your time.